POLICE have said they are in contact with the family of the man they believe was killed in a collision on the M5 between Almondsbury and Thornbury yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 4.40am, after the man, believed to have been 27-years-old, was hit by a lorry after leaving his car parked on the hard shoulder.

The northbound carriageway of the motorway was closed for around six hours following the incident.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said that the man was yet to be formally identified and that the process was likely to take some time.

He said, however, that they have been in contact with the supposed victim’s family, who are being offered any support they may need.

The investigation into the incident will continue on behalf of the Coroner’s Office.