AN INQUEST into the deaths of six people following a crash on the M25 motorway last November has heard survivors describe how Vale coach driver Chris Sloane was nodding off at the wheel.

The Spring's coach, involved in the accident which killed five Vale people and one from Alcester, was returning its passengers home from a Christmas shopping trip in France when it veered off the motorway and careered down an embankment at about 10.55pm on November 16.

Passenger, Antony Amphlatt said no-one was wearing seat belts that he knew of and that the driver was driving erratically, especially when changing lanes, the inquest heard yesterday.

His wife Lynne said she was worried when she discovered Chris Sloane had taken over the driving. She said: "On a previous journey he had reversed into something and ran over some steps. I was awake the whole journey and felt the temperature was very hot."

She said the window by the driver was open and a friend asked her to ask the driver to close it. "I was of the opinion he needed the window open to keep him awake. I had seen his head jolt a couple of times." That was the last thing Mrs Amphlatt remembers. She added: "When I woke up I thought it was very quiet, I did not know if I had died."

Another passenger, Amanda Beauchamp, whose aunt Norma Evans from Badsey died in the crash, said: "I began to fall asleep. The Coach started vibrating and I knew we were in trouble. I put my head between my legs and felt the coach going off to the left. The coach light went out and I could hear everybody screaming."

The next thing she knew was her hair filled with smashed glass, she could hear her mother screaming, and saw her aunt next to her with horrific head injuries, but still alive.

Miss Beauchamp is one of many passengers still receiving counselling. She's not been able to return to work, has panic attacks, and is afraid of sleeping in the dark for fear of seeing her Aunt's face again.

Mr Spring's sister Pamela Spring told the coroner that Chris Sloane had been a driver for 13 years and was experienced, and trusted to make continental journeys.

WR Spring and Son, which had been based in Evesham for 40 years, ceased trading after the accident.

The founder's son Graham Spring, 56, his co-driver Christopher Sloane, 42 and Mr Sloane's wife, Karen, were killed.

Bernard Coppin, 62 of Drakes Broughton, Norma Evans, 54 of Badsey and Jane Wedgbury, 39 of Alcester also died in the crash. A further 40 people were injured.

The inquest into the tragic crash, which was opened yesterday at Buckinghamshire County Council offices in Aylesbury, was due to resume today.