A LORRY driver who died when his vehicle smashed barriers before sliding down an embankment on the M56 at Runcorn has been named.

Ian Smith, aged 46, of Franklin Road in Dunstable, Bedfordshire was killed in collision at 10.15am on Tuesday at the Weaver Viaduct.

The motorway was shut down following the incident.

Police continue to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, and not yet made contact with police, to call the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 211 of 12/08/2014.