A doctor was killed when he lost control of his car on a motorway after dropping his daughter off to begin a new term at university.

Dr Paul Freeman, a doctor at Mirfield Health Centre in Doctor Lane, Mirfield, was travelling on the M42 motorway near Nuneaton in the West Midlands.

He lost control of his silver Rover 200 vehicle, causing it to roll several times before coming to rest on the hard shoulder.

Police and an ambulance attended, but Dr Freeman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police do not know why Dr Freeman lost control of the vehicle, but confirmed that no-one else was in the car or involved in the accident at around 9pm on Sunday.

Dr Freeman, 49, of Stocksbank Road, had lived in the area and been a GP at Mirfield Health Centre for over 21 years.

Dr Roger Parker, the centre's senior partner, said: "Everyone at the practice who knew Dr Freeman is deeply upset. We have already received a number of calls from patients expressing their shock and loss. He had been a friend and colleague for many years and will be sadly missed by all and very difficult to replace."

Tony Keighley, Chief Executive of Calderdale and Kirklees Health Authority, added: "My deepest sympathies go out to Dr Freeman's family and friends. He was a wellknown and respected doctor who will be very much missed by his colleagues and patients."

Dr Freeman was a devoted family man. He leaves a wife and two daughters who were both at university. He was particularly interested in minor surgery and alternative medicine.

His main hobbies were music - he played the guitar - and fell walking.

Yesterday his family were too upset to talk about the accident.

A post-mortem examination revealed Dr Freeman had died from severe head injuries. An inquest was opened yesterday and will be resumed in the Nuneaton area on a date still to be set.