A woman suffered serious injuries in an accident on the A12 which caused hours of traffic chaos.

The woman, who is believed to have got out of her Audi to examine it after it hit the central reservation, was then involved in a collision with another vehicle.

The 54-year-old woman from Colchester was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

She is believed to have been treated for fractures and a police spokesman said today the woman was in a comfortable condition.

Five vehicles were involved in the accident on Saturday morning on the London-bound carriageway, 300 yards before the Feering and Kelvedon slip-roads.

A section of the A12 was closed for almost four hours and police set up diversions through Kelvedon.

Music-lovers heading for the V2000 festival and football fans on their way to see Ipswich Town play at Tottenham were delayed.

A Peugeot 106 driven by a 24-year-old man from Shotley Gate, Suffolk, and a Daihatsu four-wheel drive vehicle driven by a 56-year-old man from Copford, were involved in the original collision. The Audi was then in collision with them.

And a Fiat Brava driven by a 45-year-old man from Ipswich, and a Vauxhall Astra driven by a 24-year-old man from Ipswich, were then involved in a subsequent crash.

Three-and-a-half hours later, traffic was still stacked back to Marks Tey.

The road was re-opened at 11.20am.

Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should telephone Stanway traffic police on 01206 762512.

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