Three people were lucky to be alive after a road smash which saw the driver undergoing emergency surgery.

Ambulance crews said it was a miracle the three men were not killed after their R-registered Ford Escort slammed into an iron girder supporting a road sign in Dunton Lane, Laindon.

The driver, a 32-year-old and from Rayleigh, was yesterday in a stable condition following a six-hour operation to save his legs, which were both broken.

Fire and ambulance crews battled for two hours to cut the man free from the wreckage.

The two passengers were also rushed to hospital with multiple injuries. Ambulance crews described the crash scene as "absolute carnage".

The force of the impact embedded the metal girder into the middle of the car.

Nick Booth, divisional commander for Essex ambulance service, said: "It was absolute carnage. It was a real mess and we knew it was going to take some time to release the people.

"They were all conscious but shocked, and very lucky to be alive."

Three fire engines were called to the scene, at the lane's junction with Dunton Road at around 1.45pm on Tuesday.

Officers sealed off the road, next to the busy A127, as firefighters battled to cut the men free.

The first, who suffered a serious back injury, was released after being trapped for half an hour while a second, who had a chest injury, was freed after three-quarters of an hour.

The driver was the final man to be cut free after a two-hour ordeal.

Picture, top: Crash scene - fire officers work to free the men from the car at Dunton.

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