PATIENTS and visitors travelling to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester today had to find a different route after police closed a section of Great Western Road as part of a murder investigation.

The road was shut from shortly after 5pm yesterday (Wednesday, November 21) until 3pm this afternoon at the London Road entrance, after a man with serious head injuries, who later died, was found at the roadside.

Detective Chief Inspector Ruth Mather said: "Gloucestershire Constabulary were called at 5.10pm yesterday evening following reports that a man had been found with serious head injuries on Great Western Road in Gloucester.

"He was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital by ambulance and died shortly after. We do not know the identity of the man but we believe that he was left on the road after being brought to hospital by car.

"We are trying to identify two cars in connection with the investigation; they are a silver Ford Focus estate and a black Audi A5 or A7.

"Investigation work is continuing and we have been reviewing CCTV footage and undertaking house to house enquiries as well as a number of forensic examinations.

"At this stage, we are not giving any information about the victim as a number of enquiries are ongoing to identify him.

"We would really like to hear from the occupants of the Ford and Audi. We understand that you may have been trying to seek medical attention for the man but you may have crucial information on what led to his death.

"If you have information that could help with our enquiries or any relevant dashcam footage you can contact the incident room directly via mipp.police.uk.

"You can also submit information via 101 or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

The hospital remained fully open, but motorists and pedestrians had to enter Great Western Road from Horton Road while the area where the victim was found was sealed off.