THE funeral has taken place of a man killed when a rally car crashed into a group of spectators.

Len Stern, 71, was one of three people killed after the car came off the road at the Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders on May 31.

About 250 competitors had been taking part in the rally, one of the largest in the UK.

Around 100 friends and family attended Mr Stern's funeral at Clydebank Crematorium yesterday.

The service was conducted by the Reverend Graeme Wilson of Bearsden Cross Church.

The family of Mr Stern, from Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, said in a statement last week: "Len was a special uncle who was well-loved by the family. His death is really tragic but he died watching the sport that he loved."

The other victims, Iain Provan, 64, and his partner Elizabeth Allan, 63, had travelled to the event from Barrhead, East Renfrewshire. Their funerals are due to be held today.

The accident happened at about 4pm at Little Swinton, near Coldstream, two hours after another rally car left the road and hit five people - four men and a woman.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the fatal crash, and the earlier one near Eccles, to contact them.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced last week that police will carry out a review of safety at public events in Scotland in the wake of the deaths.

The Scottish Government will also commission a review of motorsport event safety.

This review will include Police Scotland, event organisers, Borders Council, the Motor Sports Association and others, and will look at the training and deployment of stewards as well as all other safety controls, Mr MacAskill told MSPs.