Floral tributes have been left at the scene where a 19-year-old man was killed in a car crash in the early hours of Saturday.

The teenager has not been formally identified by police, but named locally as Ben Maitland, a classic car enthusiast and a former pupil of St George’s School, Broadstairs.

He was a passenger in a black Vauxhall Corsa when it collided with a wall at the junction of Stone Road and Bishops Avenue, Broadstairs at around 4am.

Two 17-year-old girl passengers were taken to the QEQM hospital with serious injuries, where they are both described as stable.

The fourth passenger, an 18-year-old man, was treated at hospital for minor injuries.

The driver, an 18-year-old man from Margate, who was not injured, has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and released on police bail until May 9, pending further investigation.

The road was closed until 11.30am while police officers worked at the scene.

Over the weekend, hundreds of messages of condolence were left on Ben Maitland’s Facebook page.

Typical of the tributes were messages such as: “They always say the good ones go first , in this case that is so true, you are one of the nicest lads I know always smiling and always so polite when spoken to, you made your family so proud, sleep tight Ben, god rest xxxxxxxx” and “It’s so hard to believe you’re gone. It’s truly beautiful to see how many people you touched with your kind and playful personality. You will be missed by so many, forever.”

Police are appealing for anyone who saw a black Vauxhall Corsa being driven in Broadstairs between 3.30am and 4am on Saturday (February 11) to phone the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538.