A cardiologist has told a court that he thinks it is "extremely unlikely" that a motorist fainted moments before his Range Rover struck two pensioners at a pedestrian crossing.

Dr Andrew Flapan, 58, told the High Court in Edinburgh that he did not think Vincent Friel, 44, displayed symptoms which showed that he passed out while driving.

Mr Friel, of Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, is accused of causing the death of Charlotte Collins, 68, by driving dangerously in Barrhead Road, Glasgow, on January 18 2014. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers have lodged a special defence, stating that Mr Friel had a vasovagal attack.

He is also accused of causing the serious injury of Ms Collins's cousin Margaret Haldane, 69, by driving dangerously during the same incident.

A paramedic told jurors how he looked at CCTV footage of the moments following the collision which took place close to the Silverburn shopping mall.

The jurors also saw the same footage examined by Dr Flapan, who is based at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

They saw how Mr Friel got out of his Range Rover vehicle a short time after the vehicle struck the two women.

They also saw how the driver got back into his car and reversed the vehicle off one of the women, who was trapped under a wheel.

The jury also then saw footage of Mr Friel getting out of the car and putting a mobile phone to his ear.

Dr Flapan told Iain McSporran, prosecuting, that people who have experienced syncope, or fainting, do not usually recover for minutes following the incident.

He said that Mr Friel was able to do a number of things within seconds of his car colliding with the pensioners. He also said that Mr Friel also appeared to look normal.

When Mr McSporran asked him whether Mr Friel's alleged behaviour was consistent with a diagnosis of syncope, Dr Flapan replied: "It would make the diagnosis of syncope to be extremely unlikely."

The trial continues.