A MAN who died after being hit by a car in the middle of the night on the A78 at Inverkip has been named as Robert Clark.

The accident happened in the early hours of Wednesday and saw the road closed in both directions for most of the day.

Emergency services rushed to the scene just after 3am following the collision but Mr Clark, who was 40-years-old, could not be saved.

A full investigation is under way into the circumstances of the accident.

A cordon was immediately set up, blocking the road just beyond Bankfoot Roundabout and the former Inverkip Power Station site.

The driver of the vehicle which collided with Mr Clark, of Port Glasgow, was uninjured despite their vehicle being left extensively damaged.

A statement from Police Scotland said: "We can confirm that a man has died following a road crash involving a pedestrian and a car on the A78 Inverkip Road, Inverkip in the early hours of Wednesday August 19.

"The crash happened at around 3am and involved a 40-year-old pedestrian who was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The 38-year-old driver of a silver Rover car was uninjured."

The investigation at the accident scene caused major traffic disruption and countryside back roads quickly became congested as motorists tried to find alternative routes.

McGill's advised passengers that their 901 and 906 serviced would have to terminate at Inverkip.

Local schools were affected by the closure, with Inverclyde Council advising there was no transport available on the usual routes to some of them, such as Inverclyde Academy and St Ninian's Primary.

Teachers travelling southbound were unable to reach Wemyss Bay Primary, with colleagues sent to open the school from the other direction and the start of the school day delayed until 10am.

The road did not reopen until 1.50pm on Wednesday.

Sergeant Mark McGowan sent his condolences to the loved ones of the victim as he issued a public appeal for help with the investigation into the accident.

He said: "Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends at this tragic time.

"Investigations into the crash are ongoing.

"I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw a man walking to contact officers on 101, quoting 0361 of August 19."