Paramedics took nearly half an hour to arrive at the scene of a crash that killed a 16-year-old boy.

Cyclist Keiran McKandie died at the scene of the collision near Dallas, nine miles south of Elgin on March 20.

It has since emerged that it took paramedics 27 minutes to get to the crash after the Scottish Ambulance Service was alerted to the incident.

It said its average response time to a life-threatening emergency in the area is around 7.5 minutes, but crews were busy with other patients.

A spokesman added: "This takes account of variable factors that impact on responses, such as sudden high demand as well as changing weather and road conditions.

"In a potentially life-threatening emergency, the nearest available ambulance is always dispatched straight away. At the time of both of these incidents, local crews in Elgin were busy dealing with other patients.

"A Tomintoul ambulance responding from Dr Gray's in Elgin was the first ambulance on scene at the incident on the B9010 in around 27 minutes. It was closely followed by an air ambulance helicopter and road ambulance from Inverness."

Following his death, his family thanked paramedics who tried to fought to save Keiran's life.

They said: "Keiran will be forever missed by all his family and his friends at Elgin Academy, and the biking community. He had been looking forward to going on holiday with eight of his friends in the school holidays.

"As a family we would like to thank the emergency services and all that attended and tried their very best to save him. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to them at this horrific time."