A date has been set for a court hearing to determine if a private prosecution can be brought against Glasgow bin lorry crash driver Harry Clarke.

Scotland's most senior judge Lord Carloway ruled on Thursday that a two-day hearing should be held this autumn into whether or not Mr Clarke can be prosecuted over the tragedy which claimed six lives.

The former Glasgow City Council employee was driving a bin lorry which struck six people in Glasgow City Centre on December 22, 2014.

Student Erin McQuade,18, and her grandparents 68-year-old Jack and 69-year-old Lorraine Sweeney lost their lives in the incident.

The other people who died were Stephanie Tait,29, Jacqueline Morton,51, and 52-year-old Gillian Ewing.

Crown Office lawyers decided not to prosecute the 59-year-old driver on the basis he had a medical condition which caused him to lose consciousness.

The relatives of Erin McQuade and Jack and Lorraine Sweeney believe prosecutors were mistaken not to bring Clarke to court.

The families believe there is enough evidence to justify Mr Clarke, of Glasgow, being prosecuted for alleged criminality in the lead up to the crash.

They are currently seeking the permission of the High Court to bring a private prosecution against Mr Clarke.

The relatives are being joined by the families of students Mhairi Convy and Laura Stewart, who were knocked down and killed in Glasgow in 2010.

The two women, who were aged 18 and 20, were walking in the city's North Hanover Street when a Range Rover being driven by William Payne mounted the kerb and hit them.

Again, the procurator fiscal chose not to prosecute Mr Payne on the basis that he also had a medical condition which caused him to lose control of his motor.

The relatives of the two young women also want to bring a private prosecution against Mr Payne.

On Thursday, lawyers acting for the relatives of the families addressed Lord Carloway, Lady Smith and Lord Brodie at the High Court in Edinburgh.

They have brought a Bill Of Criminal Letters, the legal expression given for private prosecutions in Scotland.

The press are unable to report what was said at Thursday's hearing for legal reasons but Lord Carloway ruled a two-day hearing should take place in either October or November to examine the requests to bring the private prosecutions.

The Lord Justice General said: "This is a matter of considerable importance and the court is anxious to progress it to a hearing soon as practically possible."