A truck firm manager attempted to hide a lack of safety checks on a lorry involved in a motorway crash in which two people died, a court heard.

Martin Howell, transport manager of TG Howell and Sons, based in Newport, South Wales, is alleged to have conspired to falsify maintenance records for the lorry after the accident on the M5 near Bristol.

Ann Hughes, 67, and her daughter Angela, 34, of Swansea, died when their Metro car was crushed in the five-vehicle pile-up on the Avonmouth Bridge in September 2000.

Mr Howell, of Rogerstone, Risca, Gwent, denies two charges of breaching health and safety legislation, and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Fuel fire

Lorry driver David Morris, 51, of Chepstow Road, Newport, has pleaded guilty to careless driving and is due to be sentenced.

The accident happened when an unidentified white car suddenly switched lanes, Bristol Crown Court was told.

The articulated lorry, belonging to TG Howell and Sons, failed to stop in time and crashed into the back of the Metro, wedging it under a white Transit van.

A fire broke out because of a fuel leak from one of the vehicles.

After the crash Mr Howell telephoned David Dugmore, an owner of the firm which maintained his vehicles, and told him to "get the records straight", the court heard.

Ian Glen QC, prosecuting, told the court that the lorry had not been receiving regular six-weekly checks, as was required under the terms of the company's operator's licence.

Trailer 'unroadworthy'

He said the trailer itself had not been properly checked for several months.

"He asked David Dugmore to falsify inspection and rectification sheets to make it look as though the six-weekly checks had been carried out," said Mr Glen.

Police checks revealed that three of the six brakes on the trailer of the lorry were "inoperative", and it was not roadworthy, Mr Glen told the hearing.

Police found that 69 of Mr Dugmore's 142 maintenance record sheets for the articulated lorry and 13 other of TG Howell and Sons' vehicles had been falsified, said Mr Glen.

Mr Dugmore, of Woodland Terrace, Abercarn, Gwent pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at an earlier hearing.

The company, TG Howell and Sons, also denies two charges of breaching health and safety legislation.

The hearing continues.