Nine people, including five children, were injured in a three vehicle road crash.

Seven people were taken to hospital after a head-on collision between a red Mazda 626 car and a Ford Transit van towing a trailer on the A1124 at Stonebridge Hill, Earls Colne.

A Renault Clio car was in a collision with the van's trailer.

Mazda driver, David Ellis, of Haverhill, was taken to Colchester General Hospital with multiple leg fractures. His children, Robert, nine, suffered a fractured collarbone, and Abie, eight, was airlifted to hospital with a fractured spine.

Their conditions were today described as "quite stable and comfortable".

A third child, Chloe, four, was allowed home after treatment for minor injuries. Renault driver, James Cooper, and his mother, Rosemary Cooper, of Duxford, Cambs, were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Van driver Mark Thorne, of Princess Drive, Colchester, and daughters Jade, six, and Jemma, five, were released from hospital after treatment.

The crash triggered a big emergency operation at 5.05pm yesterday which saw Essex Air Ambulance, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, four ambulance crews and five police units called to the scene.

The road was closed in both directions for four hours as police cleared the debris.

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