A PENSIONER was taken to hospital after his car ploughed through a hedge and into a garage.

The accident happened in Mell Road, Tollesbury, at its junction with Wycke Lane. The silver BMW ended up demolishing the garage wall.

Firefighters from Maldon and Tiptree were called to the scene yesterday at about 11.30am and used cutting equipment to free the 77-year-old man. A specialist team from Colchester was also called out to shore up the garage, as it was feared it could collapse.

The car was then removed.

Martin Cable, station officer at Maldon fire station, said: “We had to cut him out.

“He wasn’t trapped, but we had to get him on to a spinal board as a precaution.

“It took us about half an hour to get the man out.”

Katie Poel, a spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service, said two rapid response cars, an ambulance and the Essex Air Ambulance had all been sent to the scene.

However, the man was eventually taken to Colchester General Hospital by ordinary ambulance.

No other cars were involved and no one else was hurt.