A ROYAL Marine was killed instantly when his motorcycle was in collision with a car on a remote Scottish road.

Father-of-two Sgt Paul Owens, aged 33, from Kearsley, who was based at RM Condor near Arbroath, was trapped under the car after the accident on the A933 Brechin-Arbroath road at Kinnaird Dykes.

The crash between his Suzuki motorbike and a green VW Golf happened around 11.45am on Saturday.

Paramedics from Brechin were on the scene within four minutes but Sgt Owens was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three units from Tayside Fire Brigade also attended the crash.

Two fire units from Montrose and a rescue unit from Brechin arrived with cutting and lifting equipment to free the biker. The car driver was unhurt.

The road was closed for around five hours and diversions were put in place.

Tayside Police said an accident investigation team had also attended the scene.

A statement released by RM Condor last night said: "It can be confirmed that on Saturday, February 2, at approximately 11.30am, Sgt Paul Andrew Owens, who was serving at RM Condor, was involved in a fatal road traffic accident on the A933 near Brechin.

"His family has been informed. He leaves behind a wife and two children in Kearsley, Bolton.

"Sgt Owen served at RM Condor on numerous occasions throughout a 16-year career in the Royal Marines."