A motorcyclist was today fighting for his life following a smash on the London-bound A127.

The road was closed for more than two hours following the accident at the height of the morning rush hour.

The smash, half a mile west of the Mayflower Retail Park just before 7am, occurred after the motorcyclist collided with another vehicle, came off his bike and became wedged under a car.

Police, paramedics and fire crews were called to the scene, where they found the biker, thought to be in his 40s and from Wickford, wedged under a Vauxhall Zafira people carrier.

An Essex Ambulance spokesman said firefighters used airbags to lift the car off the biker, who had suffered severe internal injuries and was immediately placed on an IV drip and rushed to Basildon Hospital.

More in today's Evening Echo