A WOMAN was taken to hospital following a serious multi-vehicle crash on a busy road near Colchester.

Emergency services were called to the A12 between Junction 27 at Spring Lane and Junction 26 at Eight Ash Green just before 1.30pm on Thursday.

They rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a crash involving two cars, lorry and twos van which had blocked three lanes on the road's Londonbound carriageway.

Shortly after arriving at the site paramedics assessed several casualties before one woman - a driver of one of the cars - was taken to hospital for additional treatment.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "One ambulance and one ambulance officer vehicle were called to a road traffic collision on the  A12 near Stanway, Colchester.

"Four patients were assessed at the scene and one woman was transported to Colchester General Hospital for further assessment and care."

As a result of the incident motorists experienced long delays with queues six miles long backing up to Junction 29 at Ardleigh.

A spokesman for Essex Police added: "The driver of one of the cars had sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life changing.

"One lane of the road was reopened at about 1.55pm, and all lanes had been reopened at about 2.50pm.

"If you have any information or dash cam footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

"Please quote incident 623 of Thursday, July 13."