A 32-tonne tipper truck which killed four people after its brakes failed should "never have been" driven on that road, a court has heard.

The heavily-loaded Scania truck, carrying aggregate, had almost 450,000 miles on the clock and allegedly had "long-standing defects".

Four-year-old Mitzi Steady died and her grandmother, Margaret Rogers, suffered serious injuries when they were hit by the lorry.

The vehicle continued to career down the "very steep" hill of Lansdown Lane in Bath, Somerset, and killed Robert Parker, 59, of Cwmbran and Stephen Vaughan, 34 and Philip Allen, 52, of Swansea when it hit their car

Its driver, Phillip Potter, 20, his boss Matthew Gordon, 30, and mechanic Peter Wood, 55, face 14 charges in connection with the tragedy.

On the second day of their trial, Bristol Crown Court heard that the truck was prohibited from driving in Lansdown Lane due to its size.

Prosecuting, Adam Vaitilingam QC, told the jury: "It is know by some people as a rat run," he said. "Lansdown Lane is a very steep hill. A sign indicates the road is unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles.

Tachograph records show that Potter and Gordon had not taken mandatory breaks in the hours before the collision, Mr Vaitilingam said.

Both were speeding - travelling at the lorries' maximum speed of 56mph instead of 40mph - as they headed towards Lansdown Lane, he added.

Witnesses saw smoke coming from Potter's lorry and smelt the brakes burning as he drove down the hill.

The ABS warning light - indicating problems with the braking system - was on and therefore the lorry should not have been driven, he said.

Potter claims he pointed out the light and filled out a defect sheet but Gordon told him to keep on driving.

Potter denies causing the deaths of Mitzi, Mr Parker, Mr Allen and Mr Vaughan by dangerous driving and by careless driving.

The 20-year-old is also charged with causing serious injuries to Karla Brennan and Mrs Rogers - Mitzi's grandmother - by dangerous driving. Gordon denies the manslaughter of Mitzi, Mr Parker, Mr Allen and Mr Vaughan by failing to ensure that the brakes of the truck were in a safe condition.

The 30-year-old is also charged with causing their deaths by dangerous driving and by careless driving, and causing serious injuries to Mrs Brennan and Mrs Rogers by dangerous driving.

Wood is accused of the manslaughter of Mitzi, Mr Parker, Mr Allen and Mr Vaughan by failing to ensure that the brakes of the truck were in a safe condition.