A man has died after a serious accident on the M6 motorway in Cumbria on Tuesday which involved an articulated lorry.

The driver, in his 30s and from Scotland, was fatally injured after his Rover 45 car was in collision with a HGV around a mile north of the Westmorland Service Station at Tebay.

Cumbria Police spokesman Mike Smith said the accident happened at around 5.40am on Tuesday morning.

The motor vehicle ended up on its roof and straddling lanes one and two of the motorway.

Both lanes were closed following the accident but Lane Two was eventually re-opened at around 9.30am.

The rescue unit and an appliance from Kendal Fire Station attended the scene along with a crew from Shap to release the casualty, who was declared dead at 6.45am by a doctor.

The driver of the HGV vehicle, Dale Calkeld, 33, of Keighley, West Yorkshire, was uninjured in the collision.

Cumbria Ambulance Service spokeswoman Christine Nair said a paramedic crew from Sedbergh were called to the incident at 5.41am.

She said: "The was patient was trapped and we did not move the patient because he was dead at the scene."

Cumbria Fire Service spokesman Brian Mitchell said fire fighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to release the man, and mopped up a severe oil spillage.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident and anyone with any information should contact PC Tony Hill at Kendal Police on 01539 722611.