Christopher Cushing said he was not driving too fast

Christopher Cushing, of Bargoed, south Wales, said he was not driving too fast or "mucking about" as alleged by the prosecution at Cardiff Crown Court.

Passenger Jasmine Allen, 12, died when the vehicle crashed into an oncoming car and flipped onto its roof at Hafodyrynys, near Crumlin, in May 2005.

Mr Cushing, 38, denies causing death by dangerous driving. The trial continues.

Jasmine died in hospital after the minibus swerved, hit an oncoming car and rolled over on a hill between Hafodyrynys and Crumlin.

Nine other children were injured in the crash as they made their way to Newbridge Comprehensive School.

Beginning his evidence on Tuesday, Mr Cushing told the jury that he had agreed to drive the bus as a favour to his friend Jason Brewer, owner of A1 Minibus Hire.

By the time of the accident, Mr Cushing had picked up 10 children and Elaine Arthur who was on the bus to act as an escort.

Jasmine Allen, 12, died in hospital following the crash

The prosecution alleged last week that Mr Cushing had been driving too fast and had been asked to slow down by a pupil aboard the minibus.

It was also claimed that Mr Cushing had been "messing about" by moving the steering wheel from side to side in the build-up to the accident.

Mr Cushing told the court that he was not speeding and only increased his speed from 30mph to 50mph when he reached a national speed limit sign.

Steering problems

He said the steering on the bus then began to handle differently.

He told the jury: "As I came round the corner I felt the steering going awful light and I said to Elaine 'The bus doesn't feel right'.

"The bus was pulling to one side, towards the right side. The steering didn't respond as well as it did usually."

In an attempt to control the swaying bus he said: "I turned the wheel to try and correct it."

But the court heard that this had no effect and the next thing Mr Cushing could recall was climbing out of the shattered windscreen as the bus lay on its side in the road.

Defending Mr Cushing, Susan Ferrier asked if he could have done anything to prevent the crash.

"I could have said no to Jason that morning," he said.

Under questioning from prosecutor Caroline Rees, Mr Cushing said that he had taken extra care because he was driving a minibus full of children.

He also denied that the fact he was not being paid to drive the minibus would have changed his attitude towards safety.