Mersea Island was cut off for more than an hour after a crane blocked the only access road.

Traffic trying to use the Strood was brought to a standstill last night after the crane sank into soft ground at the side of the causeway.

It had pulled over to let traffic pass as the driver believed there was an engine problem.

Problems began at about 5.30pm as the crane travelled towards Colchester.

Colin Henson, director of owner Quinto Crane and Plant, said: "The driver pulled over to let traffic pass and the ground gave way."

The driver was uninjured and traffic was directed by company workers until police from Colchester could shut off the road for an hour at about 9.45pm.

A second crane was called in to help the stranded vehicle.

Motorists returning late from work or an evening out were left waiting while the rear of the crane was hoisted back on to the carriageway.

Traffic was then allowed to move on and off the Strood before the second crane moved the rest of the crane back on to the road.

The crane was eventually free at about midnight. The site was clear by 1am today.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.