Five people have died in four separate crashes on Scotland's roads in less than 24 hours.

Two 23-year-old men died after a crash on the A723 near Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, on Wednesday.

The men were in a Volkswagen Golf car which collided with a Scania lorry travelling in the opposite direction near Muirhall farm at about 2.55pm.

Both the driver and passenger died at the scene. The 26-year-old lorry driver was not injured.

Sergeant Craig McDonald, of the divisional road policing unit at Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact him by calling 101.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old motorcyclist was killed in an incident on the A737 at Beith, North Ayrshire, on Wednesday.

The man was driving an Aprilia motorbike on Gateside Road at about 6.35pm when he lost control and crashed into a Mercedes van and a BMW.

Emergency services attended the scene but the man was pronounced dead on arrival. The drivers of the other vehicles were both uninjured.

Sergeant Iain Pittams, from the divisional road policing unit based at Irvine police office, said: "Enquiries are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the crash and I would ask any witnesses, or anyone with information that may assist our investigation to contact our office by phoning 101."

A 55-year-old man also died following a serious crash between a car and a lorry on the A77 between Ballantrae, South Ayrshire, and Cairnryan, Dumfries and Galloway, on Wednesday at 2pm.

In Aberdeenshire, a man died after his car collided with a lorry on the B979 near Westhill at about 8.30am on Thursday.

The accident took place between the B9119 Cairnie road and A944 route to Elrick. The road is expected to be closed for several hours while investigations are carried out.

Police are asking for any witnesses who can assist with enquires to contact them.

A Transport Scotland said its sympathies are with the family and friends of those who died.

A spokeswoman added: "As part of standard investigations, Transport Scotland officials will meet with the police and the road operating company to obtain more detailed information on the accidents which occurred on the trunk road network; accidents on local roads are a matter for the relevant council who have their own responsibilities in such cases

"The Scottish Government is committed to reducing risk on Scotland's roads and recognises that all that can be done to reduce accidents must be done.

"Through Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020 we are committed to achieving that, including our key priorities of addressing speed, protecting motorcyclists and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, and targeting key age groupings of pre-drivers, and young drivers and older drivers."