A couple were arguing with one another ahead of the car crash in which one of them died, a court has heard.

Thomas Benson, Alicia Fairclough and their two children were in an Audi A8 driven by Fairclough three years ago.

Today, Tuesday, Manchester Crown Court has heard how Mr Benson and Fairclough were arguing with one another ahead of the car crash in which Mr Benson died.

Their daughter, aged eight at the time, said there was some shouting in a conversation caught on a body-cam by one of the police officers in attendance at the collision.

Their daughter said: "They started shouting at each other and mummy started speeding up.

"They started shouting at each other and mummy swerved into the kerb and into the tree."

Fairclough said she had no recollection of the collision other than of Mr Benson reaching for the steering wheel in an interview.

Former Sergeant Adrian Pye, of the Forensic Collision Reconstruction Unit, said there was no suggestion of sudden steering.

Fairclough said: "I do not remember driving the car. 

"I remember seeing the arm and seeing the headlights."

Previously, on Monday, Manchester Crown Court heard how Mr Benson and Fairclough had a day of drinking at a wedding at Rivington Barn. A jury of six men and six women heard how Mr Benson decided not to drive but Fairclough decided to drive although one eyewitness said they were "equally as drunk as each other".

Prosecutor Joe Boyd said ahead of the car crash she drove at more than double the limit of 30 miles per hour on Lever Park Avenue.

Mr Boyd said: "Does the driving fall far below that of a careful, competent driver? That is the issue."

Mr Boyd said: "The car was going far too fast for the bend and this was the cause of the collision."

Fairclough, of Horwich, denies one charge of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of causing death by uninsured driving.

The trial before Judge Patrick Field KC is ongoing.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.