The Prince of Wales visited the site of the Aberdeenshire train crash which killed a Bromley driver to meet emergency responders.

Three people died on Wednesday when carriages of the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street ScotRail service derailed near Stonehaven amid heavy rain and landslips.

Charles, known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, visited the site on Friday to thank those who were among the first on the scene.

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Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, all lost their lives in the incident.

Mr McCullough, who was originally from Bromley but left to marry his wife Stephanie, leaves behind his wife and three children.

His family said in a statement: "Words cannot describe the utterly devastating effect of Brett's death on his family and friends.

"We have lost a wonderful husband, father and son in the most awful of circumstances.

"Brett was the most decent and loving human being we have ever known and his passing leaves a huge void in all our lives.

"We would like to thank the emergency services for their heroic efforts in helping everyone affected by this tragedy and for all the messages of support and condolence we have received."

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Mr McCullough, who worked in ScotRail's Aberdeen depot and lived near the crash site, was a former gas engineer who had been a train driver for seven years.

Kevin Lindsay, Aslef's organiser in Scotland said Mr McCullough was servicing the gas boiler of an Aberdeen train driver when they started chatting about the job and he decided to join the railways.

He said: "He was a dedicated train driver, who loved his job, and was very popular at the depot with his colleagues.

"He was also a devoted family man who loved his wife and children - two girls and a boy. Brett thought the world of his family, and we all thought the world of him."

Six other people were injured in the crash - four have since left Aberdeen Royal Infirmary while two remain in a stable condition.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has previously commended the bravery of emergency responders, describing the scene as "horrendous".

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On an earlier visit to the site, he said he had spoken with Pc Liam Mercer, who was the first officer to attend the incident.

The Transport Secretary commended the policeman for his bravery in dealing with the rail crash, the likes of which have not been seen in the UK since 2007.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched a probe into the incident and investigators are at the scene.

A separate investigation will be carried out by Police Scotland, British Transport Police and rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road.

Network Rail will inspect trackside slopes across the country as part of a Government-ordered review as a landslip during heavy rain and flooding is suspected to have played a part in the incident near Stonehaven.