A school bus driver who died in a three-vehicle crash outside Aberdeen will be "sorely missed", his family have said.
Relatives of 68-year-old grandfather Ian Fordyce said he was a popular man who had been driving coaches for four decades.
The collision happened near Maryculter Bridge on the B979 South Deeside Road at around 7.45am on Friday.
It involved a red Audi car, a white DAF lorry and the bus being driven by Mr Fordyce, from the Dundee area.
In a statement issued via Police Scotland, his family said: "Ian, affectionately known as 'Fingers' to most of his friends, was very well-known and popular with everyone he met.
"He drove coaches for 40 years and loved every minute of it.
"He will be a sorely missed brother, father, grandfather and friend.''
Police said 13 pupils from Lathallan School, in Johnshaven, were on the single-decker bus at the time of the incident, but none suffered any serious injuries.
The 40-year-old male car driver and the 56-year-old lorry driver, also a man, were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with non-life threatening injuries.
School headteacher Richard Toley said of Mr Fordyce: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. He was a larger-than-life character who was extremely popular with our pupils. He will be missed by us all."
Sergeant Rob Warnock, of the road policing unit, said: "This was a tragic incident which has resulted in a 68-year-old man losing his life.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
"I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the crash or who may have seen any of the vehicles shortly beforehand to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 633 of 15/12/17."
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