A 50-year-old west Cumbrian woman has died following a crash on the M6 Motorway.

The tragedy happened at around 5.10am today, one mile south of the road's junction 36 in south Cumbria as the woman's car left the carriageway and collided with a tree on the verge.

The car involved was a Nissan Almera.

The woman, the car's driver, was confirmed dead at the scene of the crash.

The southbound side of the road was closed for around three hours as a police collision investigation team, and a forensics team, worked at the scene.

Firefighters were also called out.

"A 50-year-old female from west Cumbria has died following this collision," said a police spokesman.

A spokesman for the force confirmed that there were no other vehicles involved in the accident, and the woman was the only person in the Nissan Almera.

The alarm was raised by Highways Agency staff.

Police are now appealing for witnesses.

The spokesman said: "Cumbria Police are appealing for any witnesses who were travelling south along the M6 through Cumbria between 4.30am and 5.10am who may have seen the Nissan Almera car, or who may have dash cam footage, to contact us on 101, quoting log number 38 of January 13."

The woman's family are understood to have been informed.