Traffic was brought to a standstill for more than an hour approaching Southend along the A127 because of an overturned van.

The driver and a passenger were taken to Basildon Hospital with suspected minor injuries, after a red Mercedes van overturned in the fast lane of the A127, near the Wickford exit, at 1.50pm yesterday.

Traffic was initially allowed to pass at a snails pace through the slow lane, which was not blocked.

But police officers shut both lanes for over an hour, to allow a pick up truck to hoist the van upright, then take it away.

More in today's Echo