Police have launched an investigation after human remains were discovered on the M4 motorway near Bristol.
The grim discovery was made on Saturday evening between junction 20 for the Almondsbury Interchange and junction 21 near Awkley, South Gloucestershire.
Avon and Somerset Police believe the remains are those of a man in his 40s. His next of kin have been informed.
Several drivers contacted the police from 6.40pm on Saturday to report something on the road, prompting officers to attend the scene. The investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the man’s death and how his remains came to be on the motorway.
“Officers attended and found human remains,” Avon and Somerset Police said.
“An investigation to establish how the person came to be on the motorway continues.”
A stretch of the M4 between junction 20 and junction 22 at the Prince of Wales Bridge over the River Severn as closed for several hours, as well as the eastbound section of the bridge and the M48 between the bridge and the M4.
National Highways said police started to release traffic caught on the M4 and M48 eastbound around midnight.
The eastbound M4 was reopened around 1.30am on Sunday with the westbound closures removed about 3am.
Avon and Somerset Police have urged anyone who was travelling along that stretch of the M4 and thinks they may have valuable information or dashcam footage to get in touch.
