BIN lorry crash driver Harry Clarke has said he wants to "unreservedly apologise" for his role in the tragedy.

Six people died and 15 were injured after Mr Clarke blacked out at the wheel of the truck in Glasgow City Centre last year.

He had a history of fainting and dizziness and had blacked out at the wheel of a bus in 2010 but did not notify the DVLA.

During a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the tragedy, the driver refused to say sorry for "lying" about his health.

Now, in a statement issued to BBC Scotland as part of a documentary into the tragedy, he has apologised for the part he played.

The statement reads: "I wish to make clear that it was always my intention to answer all questions put to me during the fatal accident inquiry.

"The only reason I did not was as a direct result of legal advice given to me at the time by those representing me.

"I am aware that the families of the victims of the incident will have many unanswered questions.

"I will try to answer all of those questions to the best of his ability at the point I am able to do so.

"I understand that the impact of this event on me is irrelevant when compared to the loss the families of the victims have suffered.

"I wish to unreservedly apologise for my role in this tragic event."

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service announced in February that Mr Clarke would not face prosecution over the crash and a FAI would he held to hear all the facts.

But Mr Clarke, 58, who may face private prosecution from victim's families, was warned during the inquiry that he did not have to answer any questions which could incriminate him.

During the FAI Ronnie Conway, lawyer for the family of crash victim Stephenie Tait, said: "I'm going to ask that you say sorry to the people who died that day.

"I want to give you the chance to say, 'I'm sorry that I told lies in April 2010 and I know and accept that those lies have led to the deaths of those innocent people'.

"Can you say that Mr Clarke?"

He replied: "No, I can't say that."

Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, from Dumbarton were killed when the out-of-control bin lorry mounted the pavement in Queen Street and George Square on December 22 last year.

Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh also died.

A BBC Scotland documentary, Lies, Laws and the Bin Lorry Tragedy, which aired last night, heard from two of the families of the victims.

Lucy Ewing, the daughter of Gillian Ewing, was with her mother when she was killed by the lorry.

She said she wasn't sure she would be able to attend the FAI and added: "I didn't really want to be in the same room as him but then I also wanted to hear what he had to say."

Her sister, Robyn, said: "It was one of the most harrowing days of our lives. I mean, having to sit there and listen to him continually say, 'I don't wish to answer that. I don't wish to answer that. I don't wish to answer that'."

Jackie Morton's son, Adam Russell, said: "We kind of hoped that he would speak, to just give his side of events, basically.

"Because he was the key piece of evidence to let us know what had happened to our loved ones and get a first-hand account of what really happened that day.

"It was heartbreaking for everybody that was involved, all the families that were there. It was a really hard day for us all."