The "thickest fog" seen in years caused a string of road accidents which saw a prison van tipped on to its side.

The van driver was taken to hospital in Romford, with a suspected broken arm along with the occupants of two other cars after two separate collisions involved a total of nine vehicles on Friday.

The A12 from Roman Road southbound was closed for three hours.

A police spokesman said the accidents, which took place on the A12 near Mountnessing, were "caused by heavy fog".

The first crash happened at about 7.15pm when a BMW was involved in a collision with a grey Peugot 205 at Mountnessing roundabout on the London-bound track. In the following tailback, three other vehicles collided.

About half a mile down the A12 at about 7.45pm an Iveco Securicor prison van, a Toyota Corrolla, a red Ford Escort and a red Ford Mondeo were involved in another collision.

The 34-year-old female driver of the Corolla and the two occupants of the Escort were taken to Oldchurch Hospital, Romford. Their injuries were not thought to be serious.

Freelance photographer Stephen Huntley, of Brentwood, said: "The visibility was horrendous.

"I was driving down small country roads to get there in the thickest fog I have seen in years."

A spokesman for Securicor said: "The van was on its side, no prisoners were on board and the driver and co-driver were slightly injured."

She said the incident was being investigated by police and Securicor.

Published Monday, March 18, 2002