A BOLTON lecturer caught up in an Austrian coach crash which left six British tourists dead and dozens injured says the elderly driver who caused the accident should be spared jail.

Don Astley, aged 57, was among 49 holidaymakers who were injured when the coach they were travelling in rolled 100 feet down an embankment in the Alps last August.

His wife Glennys spent several days in intensive care after suffering spinal injuries in the crash and is still receiving treatment for back problems.

A friend of the couple's son, Richard Howard, aged 16, faces being left permanently disabled in his right arm and was left in a coma by the crash.

Mr Astley and his son Ian, aged 16, both escaped with head injuries and minor broken bones.

But as Austrian prosecutors launched an appeal against the suspended sentence handed to the 70-year-old driver of the coach who admitted wreckless driving, Mr Astley said he should not go to prison.

Johann Prettenthaler walked free from jail after being given a 12-month sentence suspended for three years at a court in Salzburg on Wednesday.

It has been criticised as "too lenient" by prosecutors who lodged an immediate appeal.

But Mr Astley, a college lecturer who lives with his wife and son in Crompton Way, Bolton, said: "I understand he's expressed extreme remorse and he's going to have this on his mind for the rest of his life.

"I don't condone his reckless driving for one minute and it's important that he is punished but I think sending him to prison would be too punitive.

"I might feel different if I had lost a member of my family."

Prettenthaler, a retired Austrian lorry driver, had been driving a minibus to Salzburg from Berchtesgaden, in Germany, with eight passengers on board when he overtook the tour bus on a blind corner on a mountain road.

The coach, which was carrying 42 Britons, rolled three times and landed upside down in a mangled heap.

Mr Astley added: "Glennys is slowly getting back to normal. She's walking but still has rods in her back which limit her movement.

"Our biggest concern has always been Richard.

"Because he was on holiday with us we've always felt responsible for him and although he's still got problems with his arm he has improved and is taking part in sport."

Richard Howard's father, Martin, aged 39, said of the court's sentence: "I felt disgusted yesterday but on reflection there was no malice involved and this was an accident.

"Richard is recovering well but is still unable to use his right arm and has to go for treatment.

"I might feel differently if a member of my family has died but the driver will have to live with this for the rest of his life."