Chaos hit Essex today (Friday) as thousands of motorists and rail passengers began the Christmas get-away.

The A12 was blocked for more than three hours this morning after a lorry ploughed into a broken-down car.

And train journeys across the country were delayed with crowd control measures expected to continue at major train stations to cope with overcrowding.

The misery for motorists began at 5.45am this morning when the A12 was gridlocked after the accident at Brentwood.

A lorry collided with a broken-down car on the southbound side of the road then jack-knifed through the central reservation, blocking the northbound carriageway as well.

By Louise Fuller

Reporter's e-mail: louise_fuller@thisisessex.co.uk

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