Harry Clarke has relived the moments before he passed out in a bin lorry which careered out of control killing six people

Mr Clarke broke his silence during a fatal accident inquiry to tell solicitor general Lesley Thomson about the day of the George Square tragedy.

His voice was shaking with emotion as he said: "Everything was okay and I seen the Christmas lights in the distance and everything was okay and then [banged the witness stand with his hand] just like a light switch." 

Solicitor General Lesley Thomson asked Mr Clarke, who had previously answered "no comment" to the majority of questions, if he felt okay directly before.

He previously said he was "brand new" on the day but answered her: "I felt okay. I was alright."

She said: "Do you remember if you had time to do anything at all?"

He said: "No."

Ms Thomson said: "What is the next thing you remember?"

Mr Clarke replied: "Being attached to the Millennium Hotel."

He said: "I heard Matt [bin lorry crew member] shouting 'Harry wake up' but it was as if he was a mile in the distance. It was very very faint."

Glasgow Times:

Mr Clarke said he felt "confused about what had happened" when he came round.

Fighting back tears, he added: "I remember waking up and everything was all smashed."

Mr Clarke said he remembered being helped out of the bin lorry by fire fighters and speaking to an off duty nurse. 

He said: "I got out of the bin truck and looked around about and and there were blue lights and everything was going crazy.

"I didn't know what had happened."

Mr Clarke said that he asked passenger Matt Telford what had happened and he said: "He couldn't talk to me."

He added: "Wee Henry [crew member Henry Toal] was in tears. 

"Which is understandable."

Ms Thomson asked if he knew what had happened to the people on the street and he said: "I never knew. 

Glasgow Times:

"The way all the fire engines and police cars were positioned I couldn't really see anything."

Mr Clarke's voice started to waver again as he fought back tears and he added: "What can I say?"

"Can I take a drink of water?"

The inquiry then adjourned for the day. 

Previously Mr Clarke had refused to answer questions after being warned that he didn't not have to answer anything which might incriminate him. The driver is facing a private prosecution from one of the crash victim's families that could extend to charge of death by dangerous driving, the inquiry previously heard.

But Mr Clarke began answering questions after Ms Thomson said to him: "I am going to start asking you questions about December 22 and there are a lot of people here who want answers.

"You know that I understand the warning but I would like you to think about your choices."