A man was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after he was hit by a car at 70mph while attempting to cross the M5 on foot on Saturday evening.

Three rapid-response vehicles and a double-manned ambulance from Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) were on scene within minutes of the incident which occurred shortly after 8pm on the southbound carriageway on the Avonmouth bridge, near Junction 18.

GWAS received several 999 calls about the incident which is though to have occurred when the patient – a man, believed to be in his 20s – tried to cross the busy motorway on foot.

GWAS crews and a passing doctor treated the patient on the scene before he was transported to Frenchay Hospital.