Nicky Lovell in court today charged with causing deaths of Ross and Clare Simons in Hanham crash

A 38-YEAR-old man was due to appear in court today charged with causing the death of Bristol couple Ross and Clare Simons by dangerous driving.

Nicky Lovell, of West Street, Oldland Common, has also been charged with driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

The charges relate to the incident in which Mr and Mrs Simons were thrown from the tandem they were riding in Lower Hanham Road, Hanham, on Sunday afternoon.

Lovell was set to appear before North Avon magistrates this morning.

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Announcing the charges last night Allie Longhorn, senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "I have authorised Avon and Somerset Police to charge Nicky Lovell with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. I have also authorised charges of driving while disqualified; driving without third party insurance; and driving a vehicle and failing to stop after a road accident.

"Our thoughts are today with the victims' families."

A police spokeswoman confirmed that Lovell had been charged and said that a 35-year-old woman, also arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after the incident, remained on police bail, pending further inquiries.

The Post has learned that the 35-year-old woman, who has not been named, was in the car that hit Mr and Mrs Simons.

The woman is understood to have stayed at the scene of the crash and was arrested there.

Ross, 34, and Clare, 30, who lived in Hillfields, Fishponds, both died at the scene of the incident as a result of the injuries they sustained.

An inquest into their deaths has not yet been opened by the Avon coroner. The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission because of police involvement before the crash.

It was reported last night that a joint funeral was being planned for the couple.

Ross and Clare had been described as "the perfect couple" by family and friends. They had just been told they had been given the go-ahead for IVF treatment to start a family.

More than 100 relatives and friends attended a vigil at the scene of the crash on Monday night.

Ross worked for his father's property rental company while Clare worked at Topshop in Cabot Circus.

They were riding a new tandem bike, which they bought shortly before Christmas.

Police officers are continuing with house to house inquiries and are still appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash, or anyone who saw a blue Citroën Picasso in the area shortly before it happened, to contact them on 101.