LONDON (REUTERS) - At least four people died when several vehicles including a lorry crashed on one of Britain's main motorways on Saturday (Sept 16), police said.

The collision took place around 2.30pm (9.30pm Singapore time) in south Gloucestershire, prompting the motorway to be shut in both directions.

"Sadly, at least four people have died," Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement.

Major crashes involving multiple fatalities are relatively uncommon in Britain but eight people died in August when two lorries and a minibus collided at the start of a busy bank holiday weekend.