Scots couple die in French crash

A SCOTTISH couple died after their car was hit by a cement truck in France.

The victims - named locally as expatriate Scots Captain Peter Gordon, 84, and his wife Abbie, 74 - died instantly after their Peugeot 405 was thrown 20 metres by the collision in the Dordogne.

They were attempting to manoeuvre from their driveway when the lorry struck their car at around 4.45pm local time on Thursday.

It is believed that Captain Gordon, who was born in Aberdeen and subsequently moved to Edinburgh, may have been blinded by the sun as he steered on to the main road.

Yesterday, friend Ian Sutherland, who lives in London, paid tribute to Captain Gordon, who first met Abbie in a jewellery shop on Princes Street in Edinburgh.

He said: "He was very keen on racing cars and went all over Scotland with the likes of Jim Clark. He had many medals and trophies. He was a captain in the army and was very keen on cricket.

He added: "It's a very bad stretch of road, so unfortunately it looks like something went wrong. He was quite a character.

"My daughter has gone to France to help sort out their belongings."

Captain Gordon is believed to have owned several Edinburgh businesses, including garages.

The couple had completed a round-the-world tour before settling in France for their retirement.