Police arey appealing for witnesses after an elderly man died in a head-on crash.

The accident happened when a red Austin Metro and a white Ford Transit van collided on a bend at the junction of Church Road and Rushbottom Lane in Benfleet at around 11.15pm on Tuesday.

The man driving the Metro, believed to be in his late 70s, was rushed to Basildon Hospital but was later certified dead.

The male van driver was taken home to Laindon suffering from shock.

The dead man was thought to have been visiting friends in the Benfleet area and police in Norfolk and London were yesterday making enquiries about his identity.

Police wanted to trace the dead man's next of kin before releasing further details.

A post mortem will be held today to determine the cause of the man's death.

Anyone who witnessed the crash should contact PC Warren Byatt at Laindon traffic unit on 01268 541312.

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