Wendy Halliday (45) died last Friday of injuries received in an accident two days earlier on the A914 Pitlessie to Cupar road, near the Cults Mill junction.

Her daughter Clea (13) received minor injuries in the two-car collision, as did the driver of the other vehicle, a 22-year-old man from the Glenrothes area.

In January 2005, Wendy's older daughter Mona (16) was one of four Howe of Fife teenagers killed in a horrific accident on the A92, near the Giffordtown junction.

This latest tragedy has devastated Pitlessie residents and brought back memories of a terrible time when the village mourned three of its young people — Mona, Lisa Donaldson (16) and Steven Garland (17), as well as Craig Lawson (17) of Ladvbank.

Howe of Fife Parish Church interim minister Rev. Dr Gordon McCracken said people were visibly moved when Sunday's service remembered the Halliday family in prayer.

"The community of Pitlessie is in deep shock at the terrible news of Wendy's death, so reminiscent of the circumstances of their earlier loss," he said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve."

Howe of Fife and Tay Coast councillor, Donald Lothian, said all accidents of this nature were deeply saddening.

"But the connection with a previous tragic event in the family is particularly upsetting," he said.

"The community of Pitlessie will be shocked and numbed."

Relatives and colleagues this week paid tribute to Wendy, who was a social worker with Fife Council.

A family statement said: "Wendy spent all her working life as a social worker trying to make life a bit better for many people, especially children.

"She lived in Pitlessie with her husband Myer and daughter Clea, along with numerous kind friends.

"To her family and three sisters she was someone of quiet determination, empathy, consideration and humour.

"She was the most wonderful mum, sister, daughter, auntie and friend and the world is going to be a lot worse off without her."

Fife Council social work services executive director Stephen Moore said Wendy would be sorely missed by her colleagues.

"She made a huge contribution to the social work service and those who she worked with benefited from her upbeat, positive attitude and true professionalism," he said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues at this extremely sad and difficult time."

Mrs Halliday's funeral will be held at Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Monday afternoon.