A PENSIONER who died following a tragic accident during Storm Ciara has been described as “the nicest man ever”.

Chris Millar, 78, fell in the street at around 10.56 am on Monday morning, during cold and icy weather conditions.

It is believed he stumbled and banged his head in the incident, at the corner of Kilbowie Road and Drumry Road.

The 78-year-old was a much-loved member of his community, as well as vice president and match secretary at Whitecrook Bowling Club.

Fiona Phillips Hamilton told our sister title The Clydebank Post everyone at the club was in shock at the sad news.

She added: “Chris was a much-loved character at our club and will certainly be missed by all. He was a great bowler, and always had a smile on his face, win or lose.

“Rest in peace Chris, Whitecrook Bowling Club will not be the same without you my friend. Condolences to all your family.”

Chris’ neighbour Jackie Craig said: “Chris was my neighbour and friend for 25 years. I am absolutely shocked and heartbroken. He was the nicest man ever.”

Tributes also poured in on social media following the sad news.

Emergency services attended the scene on Monday and took Chris to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Read more: Pensioner dies after fall in Clydebank street during Storm Ciara

At the most recent full council meeting on January 29, West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) vowed footways across the area would be gritted by 8am during snow and icy weather until March.

This came as a result of the news that during December 2018 to February 2019, there were 227 falls by over-65s resulting in 51 hospital admissions. It is estimated that 16 per cent of the falls occurred outdoors.

A report to councillors states primary footway treatment is normally only gritted during normal working hours and secondary footway treatment (the remainder of pavements) will only be treated in “exceptional” weather conditions.

A spokeswoman for WDC told the Post that the pavements were not gritted on Monday during the storm as temperatures were not below zero.

They said: “Our teams monitor the weather 24 hours a day, seven days a week from October to March and are ready to respond quickly during adverse conditions to treat our roads and footways as required.

“On Monday, our gritters patrolled through the night into the morning, and temperatures remained above freezing with weather including heavy rain.

“In these conditions, footway gritting is not carried out as it is not effective.”

The wild weather battered the country over the weekend and will continue to do so with 50mph winds expected until Thursday.

Storm Ciara also caused localised flooding on the A82, near Blairdardie Primary, and at the Renfrew Ferry, with sandbags placed along the river.

Dumbarton High Street was also closed.