A DOCUMENTARY film about Craven’s most notorious accident blackspot is to be screened in Grassington on Sunday.

Forty-three people have died at Dibble’s Bridge near Hebden since 1925 - 32 of them in a single coach crash in 1975 which remains Britain’s worst road accident for loss of life.

Film-maker Derek Smith has been putting together the documentary - simply called ‘Dibble’s Bridge’ - for several years and has interviewed many people who remember the 1975 crash - the coach was taking passengers from Thornaby, Teesside, on a day ‘mystery’ trip through the Dales when the vehicle’s brakes failed.

The coach tore through the three-feet high stone parapet of the bridge before coming to rest on its roof 17 feet below. The film also features material on other accidents at Dibble’s Bridge, including one in 1969.

The screening of the 48-minute film, which is free, is at Grassington’s Devonshire Institute, with doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Mr Smith said: “The main purpose is to show the film to some of the local people who contributed to the documentary. But also there may be many Craven residents who will remember the impact of the disaster - some may have helped at the scene so this is a good opportunity for them to see the film.

“Celebrated haulier Ken Longthorne features in the documentary, talking about both the 1975 and the 1925 crashes, when the Longthorne family was involved.

“Gordon Longthorne, Ken’s father, was born at Dibble’s Bridge Cottage and witnessed the aftermath of most of the disasters since 1925. Ken describes vividly how he went to the aid of the 1969 truck driver who was in a state of shock after jumping from his cab.”

Thornaby Town Council has been leading a drive for a permanent stone memorial to those who died at the bridge in 1975. It is intended to use stone from Coldstones Quarry near Harrogate.

One sequence in the film shows members of the council inspecting the stone for the first time and their reactions. The councillors also visited the scene of the crash.

The film also deals with how the tragedy affected survivors and families of the victims.

Featured in the film is John Lowe - an expert on road safety - whose mother Jennie and aunt Eva were both killed in the 1975 crash.

He is shown visiting the scene and describes how one of his mother’s shoes was returned to him by the police - it was one of a pair he had bought that month for his mother’s birthday. Poignantly, he had bought them on his credit card and they were still to pay for.