The body of the skipper of a tug which capsized in dense fog on the River Clyde was yesterday recovered from the vessel by police divers.

Stephen Humphreys, 33, from Greenock, was the last of three dead crew members to be recovered.

Divers had previously found the bodies of Eric Blackley, 57, from Gourock, and Robert Cameron, 65, from Houston, Renfrewshire. Brian Aitchison, 37, from Coldingham in the Scottish Borders, survived the tragedy.

Their tug, the Flying Phantom, was towing a cargo vessel when it went down at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.

In a statement issued last night Mr Humphrey's widow Helen said: "I am extremely relieved, as is the rest of the family, that Stephen has been found within the boat. I feel that it is very fitting that being the skipper he was the last one off the boat.

"My thoughts also go out to the families and friends of Robert, Eric and Brian at this difficult time."

She also thanked everyone who had been involved in the search.

Mr and Mrs Humphreys attended the christening of their baby daughter Nina at Finnart St Paul's Church, Greenock, four months ago. Mr Humphreys also had two stepsons, Calum and Scott.

Yesterday the church was one of several in Inverclyde where special prayers were said for families affected by the tragedy.

The Reverend David Mills of Finnart St Paul's Church said: "Everyone is devastated by what has happened and our thoughts and prayers also extend to the other families."

The Reverend Bill Hewitt, of Westburn Parish Church, Greenock, where Mr Blackley was a member, said the whole community was "stunned" by the tragedy.

Strathclyde Police said the search of the tug had now finished. A joint investigation involving the force and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is continuing. A Fatal Accident Inquiry will also be held into the circumstances of the sinking and subsequent deaths of the three men.

Tributes have also been paid to the men by the families of Mr Cameron and Mr Blackley.

Mr Cameron's wife Linda and daughters, Lorna and Helen, said: "Bob was a much-loved husband, dad and papa, and his loss, particularly at this time of year, is deeply felt. We love and miss him and take comfort that he has now been returned to us."

Mr Blackley's family said: "Eric was a much-loved husband and father and we are deeply saddened with the events of this tragic accident."

At its peak the search operation for the men involved 60 people and a dozen boats, and included RNLI boats, Coastguard teams, Royal Navy and Strathclyde Police divers.

The tug, operated by Svitzer UK, was lead tug towing the 39,738-tonne bulk carrier Red Jasmine to Glasgow when it got into difficulty and went down opposite Clydebank College.

It emerged that the Greenock-based tug was involved in a collision on December 28, 2000, when it hit an Egyptian cargo vessel carrying 1000 tonnes of fertiliser in thick fog.