Queen's bodyguards injured in deer crash

Two of the Queen's Scottish bodyguards were injured when their 4x4 ploughed into a tree after swerving to avoid a deer.

The soldiers were travelling around the Balmoral Estate in preparation for the shooting season when a stag jumped out in front of their Army Land Rover.

The driver was forced to take evasive action and their vehicle plunged down an embankment, hitting rocks and crashing into a tree. The two soldiers, members of the Royal Scots Borderers, were then taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment.

A police spokesman said that the accident took place last week on an unclassified road close to the Queen's summer residence.

He said: "We responded to a road accident on the Glen Muick road involving an Army Land Rover. The vehicle slid down an embankment in adverse weather conditions.

"The occupants of the vehicle suffered minor injuries. Two men were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as a precaution."

An army spokeswoman said that both men required treatment after the accident which happened on Wednesday, shortly before 5:30pm.

One soldier was kept in overnight after suffering a concussion and the other suffered scratches and bruises but was able to return to duty immediately.

Meanwhile, a man was fighting for his life yesterday following a crash on a rural North-east road.

The male motorcyclist sustained "serious injuries" in the crash when two motorbikes and a car collided on Sunday night.

The rider, who is in his thirties, was yesterday described as being in a "critical" condition in hospital. The rider of the second bike was also hurt, but his injuries were not life-threatening.

The driver of the car escaped unscathed after the crash on the B997 Raemoir to Aberdeen road near Banchory, at about 8:30pm on Sunday. Grampian Police have appealed for witnesses, including a man and a woman who stopped and offered help.