A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into a police helicopter crash that claimed the lives of ten people has opened.

The pilot, two crew members and seven customers in the Clutha bar in Glasgow were killed when the Police Scotland helicopter crashed on to the roof of the building on November 29, 2013.

A minute's silence was held at the start of the inquiry on Monday morning in memory of those who died.

The FAI before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull is taking place in a temporary court at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Personal statements of those who died are were read out in tribute to them.

The FAI is hearing tributes to Samuel McGhee, 56; Gary Arthur, 48; Robert Jenkins, 61; Colin Gibson, 33; and Mark O'Prey, 44.

The first victim statement read out, on behalf Mr McGhee's daughter Kerry.

The bus driver had to take early retirement to care for his partner who died of cancer in 2007.

It said: "My father was a very sociable man and had many friends. My mother was diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago and then he worked as a bus driver.

"He was a hard worker and was forced to take early retirement to look after my mother.

"He did this until she died in 2007. He struggled to come to terms with her death."

The son of John McGarrigle, 57, also provided a statement.

The statement said: "John didn't have an easy life but he lived it with energy. He was a writer, a 'tell it as it is' poet."

It added: "He was a regular at the Clutha - a meeting place for writers, folk singers.

"It was no surprise he sat at the same place in the pub. Both the man and his work were held in high regard.

"His talent was immense, his take on things wry, humorous and charming."

There are no personal statements on behalf of pilot David Traill, 51, and crew Tony Collins, 43, and Kirsty Nelis, 36.

Mary Kavanagh, who was in the Glasgow pub with partner Robert Jenkins when a helicopter crashed through the roof in 2013, told STV News the FAI will bring up "painful" memories.

She said: "I'm feeling a bit apprehensive but glad that it's finally happening - and hopeful.

"I know personally that I'm going to have to sit through a lot of stuff that is going to be very painful for me.

"When I managed to get out of the pub and I was standing in front of it, I could see the helicopter tail sticking out of the roof of the pub and looking at the helicopter being taken out really makes me feel physically ill."

The sheriff said families can provide a statement at any point before the end of the inquiry if they so wish.

The purpose of the FAI is to determine the cause of the deaths, establish whether they could have been prevented and enable the sheriff to make recommendations that could prevent fatalities in similar circumstances.

More than 100 people were at the Clutha Vaults pub when the helicopter, returning to its base on the banks of the River Clyde, crashed through the roof.

Alan Crossan, owner of the Clutha bar, said: "The families I've spoken to are very apprehensive obviously and quite emotional about it," he said.

"I mean that's a long time, six years we are heading into. It's a long time for this to happen.

"There are a lot of people who been psychologically affected by this and needed help and still need help so there is a lot of hurt.

"This is the strength that we've got, the strength we have as a Clutha family, there is unity.

"What we are trying to do now is get some sort of peace and relief for the families and anyone that was involved in it and if we can get some way part of that, that will be important."

An Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) report published in 2015 found two fuel supply switches were off and the pilot did not follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning in the cockpit.

The Crown Office previously said there is insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings.

A total of 57 Crown witnesses are expected to give evidence at the inquiry, down from a previous estimate of 85.

Police have taken more than 2000 statements as part of preparations for the FAI, while the Crown has around 1400 productions.

The inquiry is expected to involve around three months of evidence spread over six calendar months this year.