A mini-bus driver has denied causing the death of a 21-year-old student by careless driving.

The family of victim Catherine Hamer packed the public gallery at Exeter Crown Court as Jack Carter appeared in the dock. Carter, aged 21, of Haines Hill, Taunton, denied causing her death by careless driving on the A3124 near Winkleigh in North Devon on May 28 last year.

He was the driver of a minibus which crashed into the Peugeot car which she was driving in the opposite direction at the time with her boyfriend, who was injured but survived.

The case was adjourned for trial by Judge Graham Cottle and Carter was granted unconditional bail.

Catherine, of Frithelstock Stone, was a former pupil of Caen Primary School in Braunton, St Mary's Primary School in Bideford, and Bideford College.

She was near to completing her business degree at Bournemouth University and doing work experience for Linden Homes in Newton Abbot at the time of her death.

She had just returned from a trip to New York with her boyfriend Lee when she died in the accident.