BEREAVED families bidding to bring historic private prosecutions on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving against two motorists who fell unconscious at the wheel will return today to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for a third day of legal hearings.

Proceedings were originally scheduled to take place over two days, on September 13 and 15, but have overrun and will continue today.

The hearing is taking place after relatives of pedestrians killed in two separate Glasgow road crashes, in 2010 and 2014, applied to the court for a Bill of Criminal Letters, which would enable them to bring separate private prosecutions against drivers William Payne and Harry Clarke.

The Crown Office previously ruled out bringing criminal charges against either man, saying there was "insufficient evidence in law".

The action has been brought by lawyers acting for the families of Jack and Lorraine Sweeney, aged 68 and 69, and their granddaughter Erin McQuade, 18, who were among those killed when council bin lorry driver Mr Clarke lost consciousness while driving the heavy vehicle on December 22 2014.

The lorry veered out of control, killing six pedestrians in Queen Street and George Square. Stephenie Tait, 29, Jacqueline Morton, 51, and Gillian Ewing, 52, also died in the incident.

Judges are also considering a similar application to prosecute Mr Payne, lodged by the families of friends Mhairi Convy, 18, and Laura Stewart, 20, who were knocked down and killed in North Hanover Street in Glasgow in December 2010 by a Range Rover driven by Mr Payne.

Mr Payne also lost consciousness at the wheel.

Ms Convy, of Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire, and Ms Stewart, of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, had been heading to do some Christmas shopping when the accident happened.

The Crown ruled against prosecutions against both men, leading the families to seek permission from the Court of Session to pursue private prosecutions instead.

The hearing is being held before the second highest judge in Scotland, the Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorian, Lord Menzies and Lord Drummond Young.

Due to legal restrictions, the detail of proceedings in the court cannot be reported.

They were adjourned to allow Dorothy Bain QC to continue arguments on behalf of the families in favour of granting the Bill of Criminal Letters.

The judges’ written decision on whether to permit private prosecutions is expected in the coming weeks.