A third man has died in hospital following a huge pile-up on the M5.

The first of two linked crashes happened when a Ford Mondeo and an MG Rover hit one another around half a mile south of junction eight, for the M50, shortly after 1am on Thursday.

A HGV then stopped, and was subsequently hit by a silver Mercedes and a black Mazda.

Four men, all from Gloucester, who were in the Mercedes were seriously injured in the smash.

The driver, a 24-year-old, and a 23-year-old passenger were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Another passenger, 23, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, while a fourth man, also 23, was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol. Both remain in a critical condition.

On Thursday, police said the man taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital had died.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "A 23-year-old man, who was injured in the M5 collision on Thursday, June 2, has sadly passed away at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

"Another 23-year-old man, who was also injured in the collision, remains in a critical but stable condition at Southmead Hospital."

Police have appealed for witnesses.