HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to victims of the police helicopter crash at the Clutha Vaults bar in Glasgow.

Among the eight confirmed dead were three crew on the aircraft when it fell from the sky, some said like a stone and crashed on to the roof of the packed pub. They were Flight Lieutenant David Traill, 51, the civilian pilot, and police constables Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43.

Gary Arthur, 48, from the Paisley area, was among five people who died inside the bar.

The fate of three missing men remains uncertain. John McGarrigle, 59, a poet, Mark O'Prey, 44, a window cleaner, and Sammy McGhee were in the pub during the crash at 10.25pm and have not been accounted for.

More than 100 customers were in the pub in Stockwell Street to hear local band Esperanza when the accident happened.

A total of 32 people suffering chest, spinal and head injuries as well as fractures and lacerations were taken to three Glasgow hospitals. Twelve people remained in a serious condition last night, three in intensive care.

Yesterday, tributes were paid to some of those who died.

Mr Traill was an RAF veteran with more than 4000 hours of flying experience. He lived in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, with his partner Lucy. He joined the RAF in 1987 and rose through the ranks, serving on operations around the world including both Gulf wars and tours of the Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Traill's cousin Heather Lawson said he was a "kind, funny man". He had no children, but was said to have "doted on" his three nephews.

Irene MacMillan, 72, who lives on a smallholding near Mr Traill's home, described him as a hero. "I was devastated when I heard," she said, "He really was a hero. David and Lucy loved to spend time in their garden. They were a lovely couple and she must be devastated. David would sometimes fly past and circle around the house while Lucy would stand out in the garden and wave to him."

It also emerged yesterday Mr Arthur's daughter Chloe, 18, plays for the Scotland women's football team and for Celtic women.

The teenager posted messages on Twitter thanking everyone for their kind thoughts and pledging to make her father proud. The under-19 forward for Celtic and Scotland tweeted: "RIP dad. You'll always mean the world to me, I promise to do you proud, I love you with all my heart. Thanks to everyone who has tweeted me, text me etc, means so much, I have the most amazing friends ever."

Mr Arthur was a regular on the sidelines watching his daughter play at matches, according to Celtic women's manager David Haley. He said: "It is a tragedy that Chloe's father was one of eight innocent victims in this terrible accident. He was regularly seen at Celtic matches, watching his daughter. Chloe and her family have the full support of everyone at Celtic and across the women's game at this very sad time."

Celtic FC and the Scottish Football Association also sent their condolences.

Celtic said: "The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic, including all of Chloe's team-mates and friends, are with Chloe and her family at this desperately sad time. Those thoughts and prayers are, of course, also with the families of all of the victims of this terrible tragedy."

A neighbour of Mr Arthur's, Bernadette Moran, 35, described him as a "fantastic man". She is disabled and suffers from epilepsy and said her neighbour "took good care" of her. "He was one of the best neighbours and I'll miss him deeply," she said. "Gary was a family man and very proud of his children. He was a cheerful guy who always had good jokes and a great sense of humour."

PC Kirsten Nelis, 36, lived with her husband Mark in Inverkip, Inverclyde. Her brother-in-law Group Commander Paul Nelis was among the first fire officers at the scene, where he was told of her death.

Under her maiden name Scrimgeour, she received a bravery award for tackling a man with a hammer in Greenock in 2002.

Her Facebook friends yesterday changed their profile pictures to a black square crossed by a thin blue line. Andrina Romano said: "For my beautiful friend Kirsty and all others involved. You will never be forgotten and I will miss you every day. RIP."

Meanwhile, survivor Willie Bell said he asked his friend Mark O'Prey to hold his drink while he went outside for a cigarette. Moments later the helicopter came down. "I was standing outside with a few folk and we could hear this loud roar," he said. "I looked up just to see this huge great object smashing on to the roof. Everyone started screaming and made their way back inside," he said.

"The place was covered in dust and thick black smoke. People were lying injured in and covered in blood. I haven't stopped shaking and I've not been able to eat."

Mr McGarrigle's son, also named John, 38, said: "As soon as I heard what had happened I just knew that my dad was dead. They haven't confirmed that yet, but he's a regular and it came through right at his usual spot. I just know he's dead."

Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister, visited some of the injured in Glasgow Royal Infirmary. "I've been really humbled by some of the stories that I've heard," she said. "I've spoken to health service staff who reported when they weren't even on duty, and those are stories that are replicated across the city.

"The public have been marvellous as well, from people who rushed to the scene on the Friday night, to folk queuing up to give blood yesterday morning."