A Moray businessman has died more than a week after being injured in a horrific fireball crash.
Ian Widdowson ran a travel agency in Forres with his wife Fiona and was chairman of the town’s annual piping extravaganza.
The 59-year-old was a passenger in one of two Volkswagen Polos which collided near Kinloss on new year’s day.
The driver of the other car – 24-year-old Daniel Gordon – died at the scene.
Mr Widdowson and the 80-year-old driver of the VW he was travelling in had to flee the vehicle as it burst into flames.
The woman suffered a broken ankle and Mr Widdowson was also injured and taken to hospital.
News of his death has sent shockwaves around Moray.
Local MSP Richard Lochhead described him last night as a “thoroughly decent man”.
The Scottish Government minister added: “I met Mr Widdowson many times over the years and enjoyed our conversations and his humour.
“He was a thoroughly decent man and an active and prominent member of the local business community, alongside his wife.
“He was totally committed to helping improve life in Moray, and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.”
Moray MP Angus Robertson said: “I was shocked to hear the very sad news of the untimely death of Ian Widdowson.
“He has been a prominent business and community figure in both Forres and Elgin for many years, and I have always had a great respect for him.”
Mr Robertson praised the “tremendous effort” Mr Widdowson put into his travel firm and the Piping at Forres event.
As the chairman of Forres Events Ltd, Mr Widdowson spearheaded the quest to bring an annual European piping competition to the town.
Since first being staged in 2012, Piping at Forres has grown in popularity and lured a crowd of about 20,000 to Grant Park in the summer.
Mr Widdowson and his wife took over the Beaver Travel firm in Forres in 1999, and for almost 20 years have helped locals arrange their holidays.
Friends said that in recent weeks Mr Widdowson had been excited by the company’s new offices, and was looking forward to building the business further.
The fatal crash happened on the B9089 between Kinloss and Roseisle, just before noon on new year’s Day.
A stretch of the road remained closed for seven hours after the crash as an investigation was carried .
A police spokesman said yesterday: “Further to the fatal collision on the B9089 Roseisle to Kinloss road on new year’s day, we can confirm that 59-year-old John Ian Widdowson has sadly died.
“The collision happened around noon on Friday, January 1, and Mr Widdowson was the passenger in one of the vehicles involved.”