Fire crews spent over an hour cutting a man from East Tilbury free from a car which had been in collision with a lamppost.

The silver Ford Puma was travelling along Stanford Road in Stanford-le-hope on Friday night at around 11.40pm when the accident occurred.

Traffic police, a fire crew and a doctor were called to the scene where the 32-year-old back seat passenger was trapped.

PC Richard Longden from Laindon traffic police said: "The car was very badly damaged and we are investigating why it happened.

"The man in the back seat suffered a ankle injury and the 30-year-old driver and the 27-year-old front passenger were walking wounded."

All three occupants including the male driver from the Stanford area and the female passenger from Tilbury were taken to Basildon Hospital.

Police are keen to hear from any witnesses to the incident and can be contacted on 01268 541312.

Published Monday December 17, 2001