Christopher Cushing was driving pupils to Newbridge Comprehensive

Rebecca Hadden, 13, told Cardiff Crown Court she felt Christopher Cushing was driving too fast down a hill between Hafodyrynys and Crumlin, last May.

Jasmine Allen died when the vehicle crashed into an oncoming car and flipped onto its roof.

Mr Cushing, 38, of Bargoed, denies causing death by dangerous driving.

Miss Hadden, now aged 14, told the jury how on the morning of the crash she was picked her up outside the Hafodyrynys Inn.

Jasmine and a number of other pupils also boarded the minibus en route to Newbridge Comprehensive School.

Mr Cushing then collected other school children from the village before pulling on to the A472. It was then he began the steep descent to the school.

Jasmine Allen died after the minibus overturned in the crash

During an interview with police 11 days after the collision, the jury heard that Miss Hadden told police officers how she recalled the bus escort tell the driver to slow down.

She said she too told Mr Cushing: "We had better slow down or we are going to crash now."

"He said 'I'm only doing 50mph'," she said.

It was at that point, the hearing was told, that the minibus began to swerve before hitting a car and flipping onto its roof.

When asked if she thought the vehicle was travelling at 50mph, she replied: "I was certain it was more than 50 mph, I have been going in a car travelling at 50 mph and it seemed faster."

The court heard the minibus was found to be in working order

On Wednesday, the jury how Mr Cushing was "messing about" in the lead up to the crash.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees said: "Children in the bus were concerned that Cushing was driving too fast...

"Cushing then deliberately moved the wheel from side to side to antagonise her. Having pretended to mess about, Cushing lost control."

The court also heard that when arrested, Mr Cushing said he thought there was something wrong with the steering and that there stones of the road.

It appeared he was messing around trying to scare us School pupil Christine Vickery

The court heard extensive examinations of the bus showed it was in perfect working order.

Another bus passenger giving evidence on Thursday, 17-year-old Christine Vickery said it felt as if the minibus was going faster than normal.

"It appeared he was messing around trying to scare us," she added

Under cross-examination Miss Vickery admitted her view of the driver from the back of the minibus was obscured. "Becky said about the speed so I thought perhaps he (Cushing) was trying to scare us," she said.

When asked if that was an assumption, he replied: "Yeah, I suppose."

None of the children - all pupils at Newbridge Comprehensive School - were wearing seat belts.