Traffic police have appealed for help after a motorist backed into a bus on a busy road and escaped the wrong way up a one-way street.

PC Ron Levy described the catalogue of motoring offences as "horrendous" and "unusual".

The male motorist, wearing blue jeans and a bomber jacket, abandoned the car a few minutes after the crash and ran off carrying a young child.

The incident started at 2.15pm yesterday in London Road, Westcliff, near the BP garage, as a single-decker Thamesway bus was heading out of Southend.

The eagle-eyed bus driver spotted a red Vauxhall Astra doing a three-point turn in London Road, so he slowed down.

But the Astra - driven by a man in his 30s - carried on reversing until it backed into the front of the bus. No bus passengers were injured in the collision.

Despite the back of the Astra being badly damaged, the vehicle headed off across the pavement before going north up Ronald Park Avenue.

The car went for more than a quarter of a mile the wrong way down the one-way street until it crossed Westborough Road.

Then it carried on until stopping just before Fairfax Drive. The motorist picked up a three-year-old boy from the vehicle and ran off.

PC Levy said: "A thorough search was carried out of the area including help from a sniffer dog. We are appealing for anybody - especially taxi drivers - who gave a lift to a man carrying a child."

Ring PC Levy with information on 01268 775533 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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