A junior world champion boxer from Barnet died in the early hours of Sunday when his car crashed into barriers on the M1.

Gary Barker, 19, from Mays Lane, was travelling towards Leicester to visit his girlfriend when the Ford Fiesta he was driving careered off the motorway just before 6am.

Police confirmed that no other vehicles were involved in the accident just south of the exit slip road towards Toddington Service Station, near Luton.

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said: "The Fiesta, for an unknown reason, lost control and hit the crash barriers before rolling over. The driver, a 19-year-old man, was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital but died shortly after being admitted."

The promising boxer was following in the footsteps of his 24-year-old brother, Commonwealth gold medal-winner in 2002, Darren Dazzler' Barker, who is also from Mays Lane, Barnet.

Gary had trained alongside his brother at Finchley and District Amateur Boxing Club, in Bulwer Road, New Barnet, when they were aged ten and 11. He went on to train at the Repton Boxing Club in east London and won gold at the Junior Olympics in 2002 and at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2004. Last year, the popular teenager was also crowned National Junior Amateur Boxing Association lightweight champion.

His former boxing trainer from the Finchley club, John Oliver, said: "It's a tragic loss for a man who was on the threshold of a brilliant career, he was also a very promising footballer."

Former European boxing champion and Sky Sports presenter Spencer Oliver, one of Gary's best friends, said: "It's a terrible, tragic thing to happen. He was so young and talented. I knew him and the family very well.

"The boys used to box for our club. He was kind and never had a malicious bone in his body, he was genuinely the nicest guy you could ever meet.

"My heart goes out to his mum Jackie and his family. The news is just devastating, and it's hard for us all to come to terms with it. His family are in shock as is the boxing world. He would have gone on to do brilliant things."

Tributes also came from Barnet FC, of which he was a supporter, and East Barnet Old Grammarians (EBOG), where Gary played football for the first team.

An EBOG spokesman said: "He was a naturally talented sportsman and was an extremely popular lad off the pitch; kind-hearted, courteous, humorous and liked by everyone."

Gary's funeral is due to take place at 12.15pm, on Monday, at St Mary's the Virgin church, Church Hill Road, East Barnet. Then there is due to be a cremation at New Southgate Cemetery and Crematorium, in Brunswick Park Road, New Southgate.

The family have asked that instead of bringing flowers, mourners should bring just a single flower, donating any spare cash towards a community charity yet to be announced.

Bedfordshire Police are asking for any witnesses to the crash to call PC John Loughlin on 01234 841212.