The M5 is more associated with traffic jams than beauty spots

Mike Jackson's work celebrates, among others, the views from Bristol's Avonmouth dock and the JT Nex cathode ray tube factory near West Bromwich.

The M5 Sights Guide has sold 3,000 since it went on sale in November.

The 57-year-old, from the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, came up with the idea while working as a producer on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow.

'Rich texture'

The programme's presenter Michael Aspel has written a foreword.

Mr Jackson said: "The M5 is unique. It was one of the first motorways to be constructed 46 years ago and planning and compulsory purchase may have been a little more brutal than these days.

"This means the carriageway is much closer to the local sights and few other motorways have the rich texture of vistas the M5 has."

Some of the other views celebrated in the guide include Bristol's Avonmouth docks and the glass offices of the RAC headquarters, which reflect the sun at the Almondsbury interchange in South Gloucestershire.

Living room stash

The 95-page book also details bridges, cameras and phone masts visible from the carriageway, as well as natural landmarks.

Mr Jackson said he became familiar with the M5 while working on the Antiques Roadshow with Michael Aspel.

He added: "I was responsible for the short opening films of locations on the programme and so, when I was driving, Michael Aspel and I used to spot interesting things to the left and right as we went.

"We thought maybe there is a TV programme in this but then thought no, this is a book."

Mr Jackson said he has sold about 3,000 books, with another 3,000 still stacked in his living room.