A motorist died of a heart attack on the M40 after steering his car on to the hard shoulder.

The man in his 50s, who has not yet been named, was driving north between Wendlebury and Ardley when he suffered the attack but managed to avoid other vehicles on the road.

Banbury police spokesman David Campbell said that a doctor, who pronounced the man dead at the scene at about 4pm yesterday, believed the driver had suffered a heart attack.

He said: "A post mortem examination is being held today to confirm the cause of death.

"An inquest will not be held if it is found he died of natural causes."

Paramedics took the body of the driver, who is from the West Midlands, to the Horton Hospital, Banbury.

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