A FIVE-mile stretch of the A12 was closed this evening after a man died in a crash near Capel St Mary.

Police said a silver BMW left the southbound carriageway and ploughed into a tree.

The man, believed to be in his 40s and from Essex, was found dead at the scene.

The vehicle, which was found on its roof, left the A12 shortly after the BP garage.

A tractor driver raised the alarm with police around 4pm, reporting a car on its roof in a field.

The A12 was closed while police crash investigators tried and piece together exactly what happened.

A five-mile stretch of the southbound carriageway, between J31 for East Bergholt and J33 the Copdock interchange, was shut off to traffic.

Paramedics were scrambled to the scene but were stood down once the man was pronounced dead.

Any witnesses to the incident are asked to call police on 101.