A 17-year-old girl told a court how a minibus driver was "messing about" with the steering wheel moments before a crash that killed a Gwent schoolgirl.

Jasmine Allen, 12, died after the crash, as the bus travelled to Newbridge Comprehensive on May 16 last year.

Some of the children on the bus told a jury at Cardiff crown court yesterday of the moments before the bus overturned on the A472, on the hill between Hafodyrynys and Crumlin.

The bus slid across three lanes before smashing into an oncoming car. Christopher Cushing, 38, of Ash Place, Bargoed, denies causing Jasmine's death by dangerous driving.

Laura Jones, 17, told the court one of the girls asked Cushing to slow down moments before the crash. She said Cushing responded by swerving the steering wheel.

"He was messing about with the wheel and saying, 'I'm only doing 50'," she said.

After the crash, the girl told police Cushing ran up the hill shouting: "It's not my fault, it's not my fault."

Another passenger, 17-year-old Christine Vickery, also said she thought the driver was messing about.

Earlier, 14-year-old Rebecca Hadden told the jury via video-link that she told the driver to slow down as he picked up speed driving down Hafodyrynys hill.

Susan Ferrier, defending, said Cushing had only increased his speed when the road turned into a national speed limit zone.

After the crash, Rebecca confronted Cushing, telling him the crash was his fault and saying she was going to report him, the court heard.

Thirteen-year-old David Jones, who was also on the bus, told the court he saw Cushing moving his arms on the steering wheel after being told to slow down.

Ms Ferrier said this was simply an attempt to bring the vehicle under control after it had inexplicably begun swerving.

Cushing was filling in for a friend, Gavin Brewer, who normally drove the A1 minibus.

None of the 11 children was wearing seatbelts, it was said, and one child sat in the aisle of the vehicle because there were not enough seats. Minibus escort, Elaine Arthur, told the court it was "not my job" to check the children wore belts.

She said she told Cushing to slow down after the vehicle had swerved but saw nothing to suggest the crash was his fault.

Jasmine had been sitting directly behind the driver's seat. She was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital but died later that day.

Caroline Rees, prosecuting, described the aftermath of the crash as a scene of "panic, hysteria and chaos". The trial continues.