EMERGENCY services raced into an action after a man suffered a serious back injury in a car crash.

Two paramedic cars, two ambulances, two fire engines and three police cars were called to Plains Farm Close in Colchester at about 11am yesterday.

Fire crews cut the roof off a white Ford Ranger outside a BMW showroom after its driver suffered serious injuries.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said the incident involved a Kia Sportage which had been in collision with the Ranger between junctions 28 and 29 on the A12 shortly after 10.30am.

The driver of the Ranger is then believed to have driven to Plains Farm Close where the full extent of his injuries were realised.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said two ambulances, an ambulance officer and a rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene along with two fire engines from Colchester fire station.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews were called to a road traffic collision. On arrival crews reported a man was trapped and used cutting equipment to remove the roof of his car and release him by 12.21pm.”

The patient was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Colchester General Hospital with a back injury.