A HAMPSHIRE lorry driver has been convicted of ignoring a fault with the brakes on his vehicle and causing an accident in which six people were injured.

Leonard Sherwood was found guilty of dangerous driving following the crash when his flatbed truck careered into a queue of stationary cars.

The accident happened at temporary traffic lights on the A337 near Lymington.

Minutes earlier the former dustcart had driven through the centre of Brockenhurst with smoke billowing from its wheels, New Forest magistrates were told.

Vehicle examiners said the air brakes started to fail after a hose split. The lorry's safety brakes began to overheat and became ineffective.

Sherwood said it was normal for a dirty old lorry to produce a certain amount of smoke, and claimed he would have stopped if he had realised there was a problem with the brakes.

He added: "When I saw the cars at the temporary lights I put my foot on the brake - but there was nothing there.

"I tried to go between the stationary vehicles and the oncoming traffic and then drove the lorry off the road into a ditch."

Bernadette Kearney, prosecuting, said Sherwood would have experienced a considerable delay if he had stopped at Brockenhurst and arranged for the lorry to be towed back to Lymington.

She said: "You knew there was a problem but took no action and hoped to get back to the depot before anything happened."

Brett Johnson, in mitigation, said: "The defendant denies seeing any unusual smoke and says there was no visual indication that the brakes were about to go.

"The failure of the air hose prevented the replenishment of tanks that supplied the pressure to operate the brakes.

"But my client says he received no warning that the pressure was going down. A red warning light should have come on, but he saw no light and could not avoid the terrible accident that ensued.

"The defendant fought to control his vehicle and managed to find a route that would not take him into the path of ongoing traffic.

"He should be given an award for his bravery and brilliant driving."

Sherwood, 54, of Greenmoor Cottage, Boldre, denied dangerous driving but was found guilty.

Magistrate Roy Farmers said: "As a professional driver you would have been aware there was something seriously wrong and should have stopped. Failing to do so was dangerous."

Mr Farmers called for a pre-sentence report and adjourned the case until January 2.