THREE people have died in two separate tragic accidents on Clackmannanshire's roads this week.

On Sunday 17-year-old Grant Dowie, from Dollar, was fatally injured after his car collided with another on the notorious Dollar bends section of the A91.

And on Monday evening a male motorcyclist and his female pillion passenger were killed near Forestmill on the A977 Kincardine to Kinross road.

Tributes have been paid to the golfing "gentle giant" Grant who his family and friends described as a young man who "made everyone laugh" and would "never be forgotten".

His dad, Kenny (46), a Falkland veteran who now works as a driving instructor in Dollar, sobbed that he, his wife Yvonne (43), and younger son Jack (15) would miss Grant terribly.

He said, "He was going to be 18 on 5 November - I won't even be able to buy him his first pint. The world has just fallen out of my life.

"Grant lived his life to the full. He was a big gentle man - a strapping 6 feet, 4 inches tall. There wasn't a bad bone in his body. He was just a loveable, outgoing big guy who would never do anybody any harm, but would always wave to folk in the street and say hello." Mr Dowie added, "He was a gorgeous looking boy and the life and soul of the party. His friends thought the world of him, but he's been cut down in his prime." According to police, the incident, which occurred at 4.10pm near Horseshoe House, appears to have taken place when Grant lost control of his Vauxhall and collided with a Toyota heading in the opposite direction.

The 56-year-old female driver of the other car was taken to Stirling Royal Infirmary with severe leg injuries. The injuries are not believed to be immediately life threatening.

As a result of the accident the road was closed for six hours for a full investigation and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Mr Dowie said, "We, as a family, wish that lady a very speedy recovery." He added, "He breezed through his driving test, and had driven on that road hundreds of times - we'd done it in training.

"I'd given him money to fill up the car and he was on his way to Tillicoultry when he crashed. It's just a tragic accident." Grant had dedicated his life to golf after leaving Alva Academy. He was in his second year studying golf at Elmwood College in Cupar and hoped to be a professional player.

Mr Dowie said, "He won everything at County level in all ages, played in all the junior national competitions and represented Alloa golf club. This year he managed to play for the adult Clackmannanshire team against Stirlingshire and did well.

"He just lived and breathed the game and the professional at Elmwood Golf Course singled him out along with only a few others for high performance coaching.

"He felt he had improved greatly this year and his goal was to go as far as he could in the golfing world - I'd like to think he had the attributes to turn pro.

"He'll be so sadly missed by all of us, and we don't know where we'll go from here." One friend in Dollar said, "Grant was a lovely big guy. He had a great personality and was always joking. Everyone loved him because he just made people laugh. Everyone knew him, and yet you would never find anyone with a single bad word to say about him." He added, "It's such a dangerous road. A lot of people drive like idiots on that road, but he wasn't one of them. He'd driven that road hundreds of times and was always sensible." Floral tributes have been placed at the scene of the accident with cards saying "This is like some nightmare. You will never be replaced," and "You're my best friend, you always will be. I will never forget you".

For funeral arrangements contact Tommy Roy of Hillview Funeral Services on 01259 725999.

At the time of going to press the victims of Monday night's accident had not been named by police.

The incident occurred at 6.30pm when the motorcyclist lost control and collided with the offside verge. As a result both the rider and passenger suffered fatal injuries.

Anyone who witnessed either incident or the vehicles prior to the collisions are being urged to contact Central Scotland Police, Road Policing Unit, Stirling on 01786 456000