A crash between a motorbike and two vans left a man with serious head injuries and blocked a major road for more than two hours.

A passing doctor attended to the 23-year-old motorcyclist before he was taken to Colchester General Hospital for treatment.

The smash happened on Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, at 5.53pm last night causing rush-hour traffic chaos.

The road was closed along the busy commuter route for more than two hours.

Diversions were put in place through the town while accident investigators examined the scene and the vehicles were removed.

Cowdray Avenue was finally re-opened at 8.10pm.

PC Alan Clouthier, of Colchester police, said one van and the motorcyle were travelling towards Clacton while another van was coming in the opposite direction.

The crash happened near the Harwich Road roundabout, badly damaging the J-registration Yamaha bike.

The motorcyclist, from London, was last night described as conscious and talking, in a serious but stable condition.

The drivers of the Ford Escort van and Vauxhall Astra van were shaken but otherwise unhurt.

Aftermath - the scene of last night's crash

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