The heartbroken family of a lorry driver killed on the M56 motorway earlier this week have paid a poignant tribute to him.

Cheshire police today officially named the man as 46-year-old Ian Smith, of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, who had been travelling on the westbound carriageway when his lorry collided with barriers on the Weaver Viaduct at Junction 12 near Frodsham on Tuesday morning (August 12).

The HGV breached the barriers before coming to rest on the embankment below, causing Mr Smith to sustain fatal injuries at the scene.

Motorists were advised to find alternative routes as the M56 remained closed for most of Tuesday, as crews worked to recover the lorry, repair the barriers and clear the carriageway of spillage.

Today, Mr Smith’s family issued a heartfelt tribute to their loved one, in the form of a touching photograph montage featuring a poem entitled ‘Until We Meet Again’, as well of  two images of him, one of which shows a smiling Mr Smith with a woman who is believed to be his partner.

Another photograph simply shows a lorry driving down a long stretch of road, adorned with the words ‘Legend’ and ‘Highway’ to ‘Heaven’.

At the bottom of the picture is written: ‘RIP Uncle Fester’, a name Mr Smith was affectionately known by to family and friends.

Police are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, and not yet made contact with police, to call the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 211 of 12/08/2014.