A FARNWORTH machine operator who was killed when his car collided head-on with a lorry had been on his way home to visit family in Ireland.

The 35-year-old motorist, Paraic John Ryan, of Trafford Street, died instantly following the collision two miles east of Stranraer in Scotland on Thursday night.

Father-of-one Mr Ryan had travelled to Scotland from where he was planning to catch a ferry to visit his parents, two sisters and a brother in Westport, County Mayo.

His friend and landlady, Gladys Rothwell, aged 63, described Mr Ryan, who was a well known character in Farnworth, as "a likeable and friendly chap" who got on with everyone he met.

He had lived in the town for many years, but often travelled home to see his family and eventually hoped to return to Ireland and build himself a dream home.

Grandmother-of-eight Mrs Rothwell said: "He was really looking forward to going home for a week's holiday.

"He was very fond of Ireland and close to his family. His mother was over here only the other week.

"This place was a base for him as he often went off on his travels for weeks and did a few different jobs, but working on machines on the roads was always his main job.

"He was a good friend and it is very sad he should die so young."

Mr Ryan's family made the harrowing journey to Scotland yesterday to identify his body and make arrangements for him to return home for a funeral in Ireland.

Police said Mr Ryan's car, a black Toyota Celica, collided head-on with a heavy goods vehicle.

The driver of the lorry, a Hungarian, is not thought to have been injured. He was treated for shock at the scene.

But police said Mr Ryan, who was cut from the wreckage of his car by firefighters, suffered severe injuries. He died at the scene.

The road was closed for seven hours. Dumfries and Galloway traffic unit have now launched an investigation.