TRAFFIC is crawling through Colchester after a combination of crashes and roadworks almost brought the network to a standstill.

Police and paramedics were called to Ipswich Road, at the junction with Severalls Lane, just before 3.20pm today after two cars collided.

A woman aged in her 80s was treated at the scene for minor injuries with the road partially blocked,

Roadworks on the St Botolph's roundabout also caused long tailbacks in all directions with one lane closed for road improvements.