Two major motorways closed after human remains found on the road with drivers stuck for hours

By Josef Al Shemary

The M4 and the M48 were both closed on Saturday evening following multiple reports of a body on the road.

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Police confirmed they received multiple reports of a body between junctions 20 and 21 of the M4, between Almondsbury and Awkley, at around 6:40 pm.

Sections of the M4 and the M48 were closed into the evening on Saturday, with the knock-on effects of traffic continuing into Sunday morning, Avon and Somerset police said.

The body is believed to be that of a man in his forties, with his next of kin informed, police confirmed early on Sunday.

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The closures are set to cause increased delays for those going to or from Wales tonight, as police have shut the road on the English side of the Prince of Wales Bridge and the Severn Bridge.

The eastbound M4 was later reopened, with traffic allowed to continue moving at around 1.30am on Sunday.

Closure of the Westbound carriageway was lifted at around 3am.

An investigation is now underway to identify how the man came to end up on the major motorway.

A police spokesman said: "Enquiries are under way to identify the deceased and notify next of kin, while an investigation to establish how the person came to be on the motorway continues.

"Police are keen to hear from anyone who was travelling along that stretch of the M4 has any relevant information or dashcam footage."

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Officers are reportedly trying to identify the person and get in touch with their next of kin.

Police have asked anyone with further information or dashcam footage of the incident that led up to the body ending up on the road to contact them.