He was attempting to cross the busy by-pass near the former Shell filling station.

Mr Murray’s 84-year-old widow, Isabella, said it seemed he had been trying to see past the planters but had leaned out too far and the accident with the car happened.

The planters consist of square boxes at ground level with three round baskets above, diminishing in diameter as they approach eye level.

At this time of year, the baskets are bare but, during the summer, they are ablaze with flowering plants.

Councillor Farquhar said the planters had not been a problem in the past but added that he would have council officers look at them in case they did pose difficulties for people trying to cross Coupar Angus Road.

“There are pedestrian crossings at both the top and bottom of the by-pass but we will take a look at the central reservation to see if there’s an issue,” he said.

“If the planters did contribute in any way, we will certainly have to look at that.

“However, they have been there for quite a while and I can’t remember any problems associated with them in the past.”

Councillor Farquhar said he had known Mr Murray for many years through his union links to the engineering industry in which the accident victim had been employed before accepting a redundancy package as he neared retirement.

He described Mr Murray’s death as a “tragedy” and offered his condolences to his family.