Three people were taken to hospital after a crash on the A12 caused major delays during rush hour.

A white Vauxhall van, a silver Peugeot 206 car and a blue Vauxhall Corsa car were involved in a collision on the southbound carriageway, near the Spring Lane Interchange, shortly after 7.30am today.

All three emergency services attended the scene, but fortunately no-one was trapped.

Clinical paramedic manager John Nicholls said: "One car driver, a woman in her 40s, suffered a suspected broken nose, while another young female driver suffered a suspected fractured arm.

"The male van driver complained of back pain.

"Thankfully there were no serious injuries and no entrapments, so it was a straightforward job for us."

All three were taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital for care.

The London-bound carriageway of the A12 was blocked by the crash for about ten minutes until police moved the vehicles out of the carriageway.

Traffic queued back along the A12 towards Ipswich, off the roundabout towards Cymbeline Way, and on many surrounding roads, as people tried to find alternative routes to work.