Joseph Lock, eight, died in the minibus crash

Joseph Lock, from Auldgirth, was on his way to Closeburn Primary School on Tuesday morning when the bus was in collision with a car and a van.

His five-year-old brother Jamie was also hurt in the crash.

He was released from hospital after treatment along with four other schoolmates and a woman.

Happy-go-lucky boy

The bus was taking its normal route to the rural school, which teaches 66 pupils.

The dead boy's family only moved to the area a few months ago from England.

The boys, along with mother Sharon Smith, 36, and her partner, had moved in with Sharon's mother Kathy and step-father Chris Wilson.

Grandmother Kathy said she was devastated.

She said: "He was just a happy-go-lucky little boy. It's awful."

Her husband Chris, 56, said the first the family knew of the crash was when police alerted them.

There have now been two deaths in that stretch of road in five weeks Alex Fergusson MSP

He said: "We can't believe it's happened. The police came to the door early this morning but we thought it was about something else.

"We're just totally devastated."

He added that mother Sharon had remained with the youngster in hospital.

Duncan Hogg, who lives at Barburgh Mill directly opposite the scene, said he was woken by the crash.

He said: "It must have been about quarter to nine. All I heard was a massive bang, then I looked outside and saw the commotion."

Tory MSP Alex Fergusson said the crash further highlighted the need to upgrade the A76 route.

The member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale said: "I think this will highlight even further what I have been saying about the need to upgrade the road on the basis of safety.