POLICE have circulated a poster and made a fresh appeal for information as they seek to identify a man who died in a collision with a lorry on the M42 near Alvechurch in North Worcestershire last month.

Despite numerous enquiries and the release of CCTV images officers have not yet been able to establish the identity of the man who was on foot and died when he was in collision with a Heavy Goods Vehicle on the northbound carriageway between Junctions 2 and 3 at about 10.15pm on Monday, 16 December. 

An inquest was opened and adjourned by the Worcestershire Coroner Geraint Williams on 15 January.

Now police have issued a poster which has been distributed in the Sparkhill and Acocks Green area of Birmingham where it is believed he had connections and may have been living in a hostel.

The poster carries a picture of the man who is thought to have been in his 40s and recently signed on as a patient at a medical practice in Birmingham - although he did not turn up for an appointment. He was of Middle Eastern appearance and told staff he was born in France and spoke Arabic.

Part of the poster has been translated into Arabic and it also includes a picture of some Yale keys on a pink fob which was found on the body.

PC Andy Mackellar of the Central Motorway Police Group said: “Despite all the checks we have made this man’s identity is still a puzzle. We’ve issued this poster in the hope that someone will recognise him and give us a name.

“If he was living at a hostel and the keys found on him come from there then it’s also possible staff there or a landlord will recognise the fob and make the connection.

“It’s extremely sad to think that more than a month after this tragic incident any relatives this man had are still in the dark about his death. Somewhere he must have family, friends or colleagues who are wondering where he is.

“We are really keen to establish who he was and would welcome any information people might have that could shed some light on this mystery.”

Witnesses to the collision or anyone with information about who the man is should call police on 0121 626 1285.