POLICE officers across Scotland yesterday paid tribute to their colleagues who died on duty in the Clutha helicopter crash.

Constable Kirsty Nelis, 36, father-of-three Constable Tony Collins, 43, and pilot David Traill, 51, died in the tragedy.

Ms Nelis and Mr Collins become the first serving officers to die since the formation of the new single police force.

Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said the police are mourning their lost colleagues.

"Whilst the families of Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis will mourn them the most, the entire police family is also grieving," he said. "They worked in a very tight-knit unit and will be missed dearly by their colleagues and friends in the police service of Scotland.

"The loss of these two officers leaves the service poorer. In addition Scotland has lost two public servants who dedicated their lives in service to the lives of others.

"Our thoughts are with their families."

Jim Duffy, chair of the Glasgow branch of the Retired Police Officers Association for Scotland was in the force 24 years ago when a police helicopter crashed at Eastwood Toll and Sergeant Malcolm Herd, 32, lost his life. Pilot Graham Pryke, 47, was left fighting for survival at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital.

"No words can make this any easier," he said. "It is a hard, hard time to get through. A lot of us were involved in the Eastwood Toll helicopter incident. From that we have some idea of what officers are going through now.

"Nobody expects this when you are going about your day job. They were doing a job that they loved. They have our heartfelt sympathy. This leaves a terrible hole that there is no way to fill."

PC Nelis won a bravery award in 2003 after she overpowered a man armed with a hammer while she was trapped in a lift with him in Greenock.

Her brother-in-law, fire service commander Paul Nelis, was said to have learned of her death while working at the crash site. Constable Collins leaves three children.