A TURKISH driver is in prison awaiting trial after a fatal crash that killed a devoted Runcorn couple, an inquest has heard.

Gail Litherland, 48, and her husband, Steven, 50, of Hitchens Close, Murdishaw, died on October 7, 2003, just minutes after arriving in Turkey.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg, said: "It's a horrible tragedy made more poignant by the fact they were at the start of a holiday together.

"We have been told that a driver is in prison in Turkey awaiting trial over this case."

The couple died after their taxi was involved in a head on collision with a minibus in Aydin Didim, Turkey.

Minibus driver, Ishmail Cetin, told the inquest in a statement: "I was taking people from their hotel to the airport when I saw that a vehicle had entered my lane.

"I couldn't avoid it and crashed into the car that was in my lane."

Metin Turkes, a passenger, who witnessed the crash, said: "My wife and I were at the end of our holiday, travelling to Bodrum airport.

"I did not sleep and kept my eye on the driver because he was flashing other vehicles.

"I became nervous when our driver moved onto the other side of the road but when I warned him, he immediately moved back into his own lane."

Gail, a customer sales agent for Scottish Power, and Steven, a lorry driver, died from multiple injuries, a post mortem revealed.

Coroner Mr Rheinberg returned an open verdict.