Detectives have launched an investigation after a man fell under the wheels of a bus.

The victim was dragged under a green Mercedes minibus at the junction of St Michael's Lane and High Street in Braintree.

He had been walking along the High Street with a group of friends at the time.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to try and find out how the accident happened.

The man, from Grays, was taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, with serious leg injuries.

Detectives interviewed the man from his hospital bed on Tuesday after he woke from pain-killing sedatives.

The accident happened at around 6.10pm on Saturday but details have only just been released.

The 30-year-old Eastern National bus driver, from Braintree, was shocked but unhurt. Police have still to establish if there were any passengers on the bus.

Police have also been examining town centre CCTV footage for evidence but this has so far proved unsuccessful.

Det Con Alan Lewis, of Braintree CID, said: "We are desperate to speak to as many people as possible to find out what happened. The man has some nasty leg injuries and he's due to have more operations.

"We'd like to speak to anyone drinking in nearby pubs or any possible passengers on the bus who saw anything. We're also hoping there may have been shoppers returning home at around that time."

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