Man's body discovered on M5 carriageway

Police were called at 2.30am having been alerted by members of the public

A man has been shot dead by police in Islington, north London (Getty Images)

The M5 motorway has been partially closed after a man’s body was discovered early this morning.

Devon and Cornwall police were called to the main carriageway of the M5 near Willand, Devon, at around 2.30am after members of the public alerted emergency services having spotted what they suspected was a body.

A police spokesperson said an investigation has been started to establish how the man came to be on the busy motorway, adding that police officers were keeping an “open mind”.

The man has been identified and his family informed.

The southbound carriageway of the M5 is now open but the northbound carriageway, between junction 29 Exeter and junction 27 Tiverton, is expected to be closed until the early afternoon.

Diversions are in place in the area and are being managed by the Highways Agency.