WEST Mercia Police received a report of a man pointing a gun at another motorist on the M5 in Worcestershire an hour before a driver was shot by police.

A spokesman for the force said officers received the call at 8.30am on Wednesday (September 27), with the man reported to be near junction eight of the motorway.

A man later died after officers from Avon and Somerset Police opened fire on the A369 Portbury Hundred road, close to the M5 Gordano services near Bristol, at about 9.30am.

Avon and Somerset Police said it had received calls from 'concerned' people travelling on the M5 who reported seeing a man in a car with a handgun.

The IPCC are aware of the incident and the phone call and have now begun an independent investigation.

A spokeswoman for the police watchdog said: “What appears to be a non-police issue firearm was found at the scene and will also be subject to examination.”

Images of the scene showed what appeared to be a handgun on the roof of the red Suzuki Swift.

There were at least four bullet holes in the off-side of the vehicle and the driver’s side front window was smashed. Blood and glass, as well as a sun hat, could be seen on the floor by the hatchback.