Police have issued an appeal for witnesses after a crash on the new bypass at Little Clacton in which two drivers were trapped.

The drivers were injured in the accident which involved four vehicles and which blocked the A133.

The drivers, an 18-year-old woman from Nayland and a 37-year-old man from Dagenham, were today "serious but stable" in Colchester General Hospital.

Two other drivers involved escaped injury.

Clacton firemen were at the scene for about an hour freeing the trapped motorists and clearing the road.

Crews had to cut the roof off one of the cars.

The accident happened about half a mile the Colchester side of the Bovills roundabout at about 5.28pm on Saturday.

It involved a lorry and a Ford Fiesta, driven by the injured man, travelling towards Clacton and a Vauxhall Astra van and trailer and Ford Escort, being driven by the woman, traveling towards Colchester.

The names of the injured drivers are not being released.

An investigation into the accident has been launched and police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who can help can telephone 01206 762512.

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