A man fell 70ft to his death down a quarry as he walked home after crashing his car.

Police believe Bryce Harron, 40, had abandoned his Rover 800 in a field when it left the road and tried to walk the short distance to his home. His body was discovered at the bottom of the sheer cliff by his brother-in-law, Gary Uter, who had joined a search party after the damaged car was reported to police and the owner established.

Fife Police said the car, which had been travelling between Kinglassie and Cardenden, was believed to have been involved in the accident around 9pm on Sunday, close to concrete works at Enstone Quarry, near Cardenden. The accident was reported to police on Monday, officers said.

Mr Harron, who lived in Balgreggie Park, Cardenden, with his mother, featured in the press last year when Britain's first case of deadly bird flu was confirmed.

Mr Harron was reported as saying he had discovered a dead swan's body in reeds in the River Leven near Scotlandwell, a few miles from where the infected Cellardyke swan was washed up. He claimed to have found the swan the week before the Cellardyke bird which had the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain was recovered.

His mother Janet said last night: "Bryce loved life and was loved by his family who will miss him always."

His sister Jackie Uter and her husband Gary live in the same street, which is just yards from the quarry.

Mrs Uter, 42, also paid tribute to her brother and said: "Our whole family is devastated, but in particular our mother. Bryce lived with her in the same house his entire life.

"He was her carer as she doesn't keep well. Bryce was the bairn of the family and we all thought the world of him. We are trying to comfort each other but the place won't be the same without him."

A spokesman for Fife Police said: "Bryce, who lived in Cardenden for most of his life, was a well known and well-liked member of the community.

"He was passionate about hillwalking where he enjoyed the hills and the company of his dogs."

"There appear to be no suspicious circumstances at this time."