Five young sons of a man who was killed in a dog attack have been left orphaned eight years after their mum lost a battle with cancer.
A second tragedy hit their family on Wednesday afternoon when Adam Watts was mauled to death on the outskirts of Dundee.
The popular 55-year-old died at the Juniper Kennels and Cattery he runs in Kirkton of Auchterhouse, about five miles north-west of the city.
Tragically the deadly attack orphaned his five sons, four of whom are teenagers and one aged just 10.
Their mum, Eileen, lost a brave battle with cancer in February 2013, aged 46.
In 2018 the Daily Record told how t he couple's youngest son raised thousands of pounds in honour of his mum by walking over the Tay Road Bridge 20 TIMES.
At the time Adam couldn't contain his pride at his boy's astonishing feat of endurance..
He told us: "I’m bursting with pride."
Tributes have poured in for Adam since Wednesday afternoon's horrific attack at the rural kennels.
We spoke to a number of people in the close-knit village who have been left devastated by the incident that happened shortly after 1pm.
They described him as a 'great man' who 'loved his dogs' and 'supported his five sons so well'.
One devastated resident told the Record: "It's such a tragic thing, I can't believe it, he was such a great guy.
"He had brought up his five boys who will be devastated.
"Adam was a great dad to them, supported them well.
They added: "He lived on site at the kennels.
"He was always on the go, doing things like charity walks.
"Such a sad loss of a great man."
Writing on the Eileen Watts Tribute Fund website, Adam described his wife's brave battle with bowel and liver cancer.
He told how courageous she was and how the family were being supported by Dundee's Maggie's Centre.
Describing her fight, he wrote: "She immediately adopted an attitude of hatred toward the Cancer and was adamant that it wasn't going to stay, 'like an uninvited guest at a party', as she put."
And he added: "Eileen passed away on the 26th February 2013 and our 5 wonderful boys and I continue to use Maggie's in either group or 1 - 1 therapy and counselling sessions.
"It has proved to be source of great comfort and support for us as a family and we are by no means unique in this."
A police car was parked behind a closed gate at the rural smallholding through the day as officers guarded the property.
Locals described seeing a significant amount of activity there last night.
One said: "There were a number of police cars and at least one ambulance at the kennels in the afternoon.
"It looked like a really serious incident.
"A family lives in the house next to the kennels and I think it was the owner who was killed.
"It is such a tragedy, especially at this time of year."
Calls to Juniper Kennels and Cattery went unanswered through the morning.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed that a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.
Officers also said that the death is not being treated as suspicious.
They told the Record: “Officers received report of a man having been attacked by a dog in Kirkton of Auchterhouse around 1.10pm on Wednesday, December 22.
“Emergency services attended, however, the 55-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
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