TRIBUTES have been made to a Dunfermline Boys' Brigade Captain who had died at the age of 34.

A statement from the 4th Dunfermline (Abbey) Boys' Brigade said Matthew (Matt) Boyle said their captain would be "deeply missed" after his sudden passing last month.

Born in Aberdeen, Matt moved to Perth as a baby and went on to live in Buckie, where he attended primary school, before finishing his school in Dunfermline while living in Saline.

After leaving school, he joined Openreach as an apprentice and continued to work there until his death.

Throughout his life, he was heavily involved in the Boys' Brigade.

His sister Elaine said: "Matt was very proud to be the captain of the 4th Dunfermline (Abbey) Boys' Brigade. The company celebrated its 90th anniversary earlier this year and Matt was looking forward to leading the company through the next ten years and celebrating the 100th anniversary.

"Matt was involved in the BB from Anchor Boys all the way through Junior Section, Company Section, Officer and then Captain."

Posting on Facebook, the 4th Dunfermline Abbey Company, said it was with "great sadness" that they paid tribute to their captain, Matthew Boyle.

"Matt has been a member of the Boys' Brigade for the majority of his life," it stated.

"His involvement began as a boy in the Anchor Section of 17th Perth.

"He then moved to the 1st Buckie, a company that continued to inspire him, as an Anchor Boy until his third year in Company Section.

"He moved onto join the 4th Dunfermline, continuing beyond school age to become an officer and then captain from 2018. As well as serving the 4th Dunfermline, he was heavily involved in all brigade activities, hiking, Duke of Edinburgh and held the position Dunfermline and District Battalion Secretary.

"Matt was well-loved and respected by fellow-officers and boys alike, and his loss is deeply felt. We send our condolences to Matt's partner and family at this difficult time."

A tribute from the 3rd Dunfermline Boys' Brigade added: "Many of our boys will have happy memories of Matt, recently at Pitlochry camp, and many Junior and Company section camps in the past.

"Matt often came to help out with parade nights and various events with our company and will be sorely missed, not only by our Company, but he was also a stalwart of the BB family locally, nationally, and he was a very fine Captain of the 4th Dunfermline (Abbey) Company.

"On a personal note, we have all lost a valued friend who exemplified all that is good about BB; he was kind, loyal, caring, dedicated, and a lot of fun."

Matt is survived by partner Emma, mum and dad Elaine and Bob, sister Elaine and her partner Adam, nephew Ryan and his wife Rhiannon and their baby girl Isla.

A funeral service for him took place at Dunfermline Abbey last Tuesday.