Tributes have been paid to a Carlisle teenager who died when his car crashed through a bridge.

Harry Blowing’s BMW 320 was the only vehicle involved in a tragedy on the A7, north of Langholm, on Monday at about 7.10pm.

The 18-year-old from Etterby Scaur, had to be cut free from his car by firefighters.

He was then airlifted to the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where he later died.

Police Scotland say an investigation into the cause of the crash, which happened at Kirkton Burn Bridge, Ewes, is ongoing.

The road was closed to allow a full crash examination to take place and to assess the amount of damage caused to a bridge parapet.

Tributes were paid to Harry as news of the tragedy spread.

Writing on the News & Star’s Facebook page, Abby Simpson Waning wrote: “I can’t believe it! Rest in Peace Harry. My thoughts are with his family.”

Gillian Goddard posted: “Really very sad. Pleasant young lad. Served him a few times at work.”

Suzanne Barton said: “He was a lovely lad.”

Resident James Irving, who lives close to Kirkton Bridge, was the one who called 999 after hearing the crash while watching television with his son.

“We went outside and we could see smoke and we saw that the car had hit the bridge.” he said. “I think I spoke to someone up in Aberdeen [from the emergency services] and told them what happened and gave them my postcode. It took a while for the emergency services to get here but there were police cars and fire engines.

“We could hear them cutting the driver free.”

He added: “There were several people there – probably about 20 – and there were also two helicopters but I didn’t see that one of them had taken him away.

“One of them was sitting there for quite a long time.”

Mr Irving said that it was still light at the time of the crash and that there had been no rain.

Sergeant Leigh McCulloch, of the Trunk Roads Policing Group at Lockerbie police station, said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this crash to come forward and speak to us.

“Likewise, we want to speak to anyone who may have seen the black BMW driving south prior to the collision.”

The Procurator Fiscal has been informed.

Witnesses can speak to a police officer at Lockerbie Trunk Roads Policing Unit by calling 101.