The families of those who died and in the Glasgow bin lorry crash have been warned they could face a harrowing time, as the probe into the tragedy opens this week.

The Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI)t will set out to "establish the circumstances relating to the tragic deaths" of the six victims.

Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, died in the incident in the city's Queen Street and George Square on December 22 last year.

Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed when the truck mounted the pavement before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel. Ten others were left injured.

The FAI will also seek to establish if anything could have been done to prevent the crash.

David Wilson, a partner at law firm Digby Brown, who will represent one of the victims, warned “It will be extremely difficult emotionally for everyone involved, for all the victims’ families and for the driver and his family. What I think everyone hopes is that the inquiry is vigorous and will answer questions the families have, and that lessons can he learned for the future."

He told a Sunday newspaper the purpose of the FAI was not to blame or find anyone guilty, but to establish what happened.: “It’s very important for the families of those who died that we do what we can to ensure no one endures what they’ve had to in the future. The families want to ensure justice is done, get answers to their questions and ensure precautions are taken so that such a tragedy does not happen again.”

Sheriff Principal Craig Scott had been due to conduct the inquiry but has appointed Sheriff John Beckett to replace him. He did so as soon as he become aware that he was acquainted with one of the deceased and was known to the deceased's family.

Solicitor General Lesley Thomson QC, Scotland’s second most senior law officer, will lead the Crown case.