A taxi driver fell asleep and ploughed into the back of a parked van after working 19 hours behind the wheel, a court was told.

Michael Breeds, 55, was driving four passengers home from a night out in Brighton when the crash happened in the early hours of August 25 last year, Lewes Crown Court heard.

Breeds crashed into the back of the white Transit van, parked on the A259 near Peacehaven.

One of his passengers, Joseph Sheath, today told a jury how he and three friends were returning to Seaford after a birthday celebration.

Mr Sheath, who was sitting behind the driver, said the journey had been normal until the taxi was about 100 yards from the van.

He said he was suddenly aware there was going to be a collision.

He said: "I was looking out of the front window and I saw the van. You could not miss it - a great big, white van.

"At first I was not concerned but then we got so close we could not go around it."

The prosecution say Breeds, of Marine Drive, Bishopstone, near Seaford, was driving dangerously because he was tired after working for 19 hours before the accident.

He denies the charge.

The jury heard how Breeds later told police he had a momentary loss of concentration after something distracted him in the back seat.

He said it was like a foot or knee in the back seat which made him look over his shoulder.

Lawrence Henderson, prosecuting, said: "The Crown says he was either asleep at the wheel or so fighting the onset of sleep that he was not concentrating on what he should have been."

The trial continues.