Man, 75, knocked down and killed by Land Rover

A PENSIONER was killed after being struck by a 4x4 as heavy snow and freezing temperatures gripped parts of Scotland.

Pedestrian Chris Cook, 75, was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by a Land Rover in the Aberdeenshire village of Johnshaven.

The accident happened on Wednesday night as the first waves of winter weather hit swaths of the UK, blanketing most of the north-east of Scotland in snow.

A police spokesman said: "Grampian Police attended at New Road, Johnshaven, where a male pedestrian has been in a collision with a car.

"As a result of the collision, which happened just after 7pm, the pedestrian has died at the scene."

Police said inquires were continuing to establish whether the fatal accident had been weather-related.

Mr Cook, of Harbour Place, was well known in the village and was an office-holder with the local indoor bowling club.

Roberta Still, owner of the Ship Hotel in Johnshaven, where Mr Cook was a regular, said it had been a sad night for everyone in the village.

She said: "He came in twice a week. He kept himself to himself and was quite a quiet person. He was a really fine lad."