THE lorry driver charged with killing a mother and three children in an horrific eight-vehicle crash on the A34 in Berkshire, was using his mobile phone at the time.

Thirty-year-old Tomasz Kroker appeared in Reading Crown Court this morning where he pleaded guilty to four counts of death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

On August 10, his lorry was involved in an horrific pile-up on the A34 between Chieveley and West Ilsley which claimed the lives of Tracy Houghton, her sons Ethan 13, and Josh 11, along with her partner's daughter, Amiee Goldsmith, 11.

Mrs Houghton's partner Mark Goldsmith witnessed the horrific crash and suffered whiplash and a broken rib as he drove his own Vauxhall car with his 13-year-old son Jake as a passenger.

The family were travelling back from a camping break in a two-car convoy when Mrs Houghton's Vauxhall Corsa was crushed and became lodged underneath a lorry.

Four lorries and four cars were piled up between between High Street and Bury Lane, leaving a dozen others injured, and traffic at standstill for miles in both directions. The northbound carriageway of the A34 was closed for 12 hours.

The court heard that Kroker, from Trajan Walk, Andover, was using his mobile phone when the crash happened.

He was remanded in custody for sentencing on October 31.