RESCUE authorities from South Wales and the West Country are investigating after an abandoned car was found on the Severn Bridge.

Reports of a Ford Mondeo left between junctions one and two of the M48 motorway were recorded by Avon and Somerset Police at 5.48am this morning and no driver has since been located.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We received information that a car had been left on the bridge eastbound and after officers from Avon and Somerset and Gwent Police forces failed to locate a driver, we decided to take precuationary measures.

"We are keeping our mind open to what happened as the car has been abandoned with no driver."

Coastguard teams from Bristol and South Wales as well as volunteers from the Severn Area Rescue Association are currently searching the area assisted by police helicopters.