A policewoman needed hospital treatment after being struck by a police car during an armed surveillance operation.

The officer, who works for the force's support unit, was taken to Colchester General Hospital after the accident at Coggeshall.

She suffered severe bruising to her left leg and shoulder after being struck during the raid and allowed home after treatment.

Two men and a woman were arrested during yesterday's raid, a joint operation between Essex Police's drugs and serious crime units.

They were kept in custody overnight on suspicion of burglaries and the theft of a vehicle.

A spokesperson for Essex Police today (Friday) stressed the constable was not injured as a result of the defendent's actions.

She added: "The operation was focused on people rather than premises and the fact it happened in Coggeshall was a coincidence.

"People rush in from all directions during these incidents and lots of different people from the force were involved, ranging from uniformed officers to CID."

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