A FATAL accident inquiry was shown harrowing footage of the moment a bin lorry careered along a busy Glasgow street and killed six people.

A short piece of CCTV taken around 2.30pm on December 22, last year captured the horrifying moment.

The distressing video showed the lorry ploughing along the pavement knocking into people on the street and leaving a trail of devastation behind.

Other members of the public can be seen immediately running to the aid of those knocked to the ground.

No members of the families who are at court for the inquiry came into the hearing while the footage was played to the court.

The inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court began today into the deaths of six people who died on December 22 last year, days before Christmas.

They were killed when a bin lorry careered into them on Glasgow's Queen Street.

Jack Sweeney, 68, his wife Lorraine, 69, and their 18-year-old granddaughter Erin McQuade, all from Dumbarton, were among them.

Gillian Ewing, 52 , from Edinburgh, Jacqueline Morton, 51,and 29-year -old Stephenie Tait from Glasgow also tragically lost their lives.

The cause of death for all six was “multiple injuries due to a road traffic collision” which was read to the court as part of a joint minute of agreed facts.

It also detailed that Henry Clarke was the driver of the bin lorry at the time.

Sheriff John Beckett QC started the inquiry by expressing his personal sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the court.

He said he "can only imagine the shock, pain and anguish" suffered by them.

The court then observed a minute's silence to remember those who died before evidence was lead.

The joint minute detailed the other people hit by the bin lorry during the incident and those who managed to avoid it.

The court heard Maureen Quinn and her husband Alexander Malcolm, both 53, were on Queen Street pushing a buggy with their three-year-old granddaughter in it.

The court was told “On observing the truck mount the pavement and approach them they ran towards the roadway of Queen Street.

“As they did so they threw the buggy containing their grandchild out onto the road to avoid being struck.

“None of them were struck by the truck but they all sustained minor injuries as a result of the impact from landing on the roadway.

Mr Malcolm was the only one to have any medical treatment.

Ewan Little, and Mhairi McLaughlin, both 15, were hit on the arm and suffered minor injuries.

Joanne Wilson, 49, was walking from Royal Exchange Square onto Queen Street when she was hit by the truck as she tried to avoid it, and suffered minor injuries.

Eighty-one year-old William Brannan ran onto the road when he saw the bin lorry come towards him but was hit on the back by a piece of debris.

Alix Stewart, 14, Irene McAuley, 18 and Danielle Dawson, 13, were all hit by the lorry and taken to hospital. Miss Stewart and Miss McAuley were seriously injured and needed treatment.

Marie Weatherall, 64 and Elaine Morrell, 49, also both sustained serious injuries and needed medical attention.

Sean Dunipace, 19, ran across the road when he saw the truck travelling towards him and was hit on the ear by debris.

Taxi driver George Reid was at the traffic lights at the junction of Queen Street and West George Street when the truck collided with his car and pushed it to the canopy area at the Millennium Hotel.

The court was told: “He lost consciousness for a time. He was removed from his vehicle by the Fire and Rescue services. He was conveyed to hospital but was otherwise uninjured and did not receive any medical treatment.” The minute also detailed: “During the course of the incident, numerous members of the public saw Henry Clarke unconscious.

“He was slumped forward and to the left in the driver's seat with his hands on the steering wheel.

“He was wearing a seat belt but his head and body were moving in an uncontrolled manner with the momentum of the truck.” Matthew Telford, 46, a member of the crew in the bin lorry at the time of the incident began evidence at the inquiry.

He told the inquiry he knew Mr Clarke “quite well” after working with him for three years.

Solicitor General Lesley Thomson QC asked if Mr Clarke ever complained of dizziness or fainting and the witness said he had not.

Mr Telford said his colleague had told him of a problem with his hand and his foot in the past.

Mrs Thomson asked if he could remember any incidents involving any “other drivers” that day, before the incident at Queen Street and he said “no”.

She asked if there was any incidents involving a red Audi car and he said “only what I have been briefed by my lawyers”.

Mrs Thomson asked :“In particular was there any sounding of the horn by Mr Clarke when he was driving the bin lorry in the area of Cowcaddens Road and North Hanover Street between 1.30 and 2pm.” Mr Telford replied: “No because it’s not the sort of thing Mr Clarke would do.” The refuse collector described Mr Clarke as “quite laid back”.

The fatal accident inquiry continues.