A truck driver was today committed for trial in connection with a road crash which killed four Sussex backpackers on holiday in Australia.

The father and sister of Peter Standing, who died in the crash, were at Tully Magistrates Court in Australia to see Anthony Pitkin, 27, appear in relation to four charges of manslaughter.

Pitkin was committed for trial to the Supreme Court in Townsville, where he is expected to appear in about four months, and released on bail.

Ben Hebblethwaite, 20, of Clovers End, Horsham, his brother Martyn, 22, of Five Oaks Road, Slinfold, Peter Standing, 21, of Amherst Crescent, Hove and Timothy Skipp, 23, of Grebe Crescent, Horsham, died instantly in the crash in May 1999.

It happened on the Bruce Highway in Queensland, when a truck carrying fruit and vegetables crashed with an estate car rented by the four friends.

David and Jo Standing, father and sister of Peter, travelled to Australia to watch the court case and visit the scene of the crash.

Mr Standing, 50, said: "It was quite an ordeal when they went through some of the evidence in court. But it was not as harrowing as we feared it would be.

"We have been made very welcome by people here and we feel it is being dealt with professionally and fairly.

"It has been very helpful to us to see where it happened. It helps us to understand what happened."

The pair will be visiting relatives and plan to return to Sussex on November 12.