Accident investigators have been trying to solve a mystery crash which killed a Brentwood financier.

Andrew Russen, of Heron Way, Hutton Mount, lay dead near the wreckage for five hours before his body was discovered.

The accident happened early on Saturday.

Police said the 43-year-old's blue BMW Cabriolet plunged down a steep embankment on the M4 in Berkshire. An appeal has been made for witnesses.

The finance manager had suffered extensive injuries.

Mr Russen, who worked for Lloyds Bank Commercial Service in Basildon, was travelling west down the M4 to visit his parents in Gloucester when he crashed. The time on his clock had stopped at 3.50am.

At 9.36am a routine patrol spotted debris and damage to trees along the carriageway and discovered the wreckage of his P-registered 318i.

Pc Paul Davies of Thames Valley traffic police said: "It's a mystery. There is no reason to believe a second vehicle was involved.

''From the damage to the car and the extent of Mr Russen's injuries it would have been extremely unlikely he could have been saved even with immediate medical assistance."

Pc Davies said the wrecked BMW was difficult to spot from the hard shoulder.

He added: "We are anxious that anyone who saw this car, or who can give any information, contacts the police.

''We know there weren't many people about. It was too late for those going home after a night out and too early for the rest."

Family friends Michael and Brenda McKee, who live in Friars Avenue, Shen-field, were shocked by the tragedy.

They met Mr Russen and his wife Gill when their children, James, 10 and five-year-old Francesca, attended Long Ridings Primary School, before moving to Leicester.

Mrs McKee said: "We'd known Andy and Gill since they came to this area four years ago from Cambridge.

''He was an outgoing, popular man, who loved cars and was a fitness fanatic. He was planning to go up to Leicester to pick up the children after he had seen his parents."

It is understood that Mr Russen had sold the family home in Hutton and had been due to move today.

A Lloyds spokeswoman said: "He was a popular member of the team and will be very much missed. Our sympathy goes out to his family."

The funeral will take place in Gloucester.

A post mortem examination was held in Newbury on Tuesday and an inquest was opened and adjourned on Wednesday.

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