A father and son were today recovering in hospital after a remarkable escape from a collision with a double-decker bus near Chelmsford.

The collision was in Danbury, between Maldon and Chelmsford. It left the bus - carrying six passengers - in a ditch.

A second car landed on the roof of a BMW driven by John Spalding, 46.

Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene of the crash at just before 11.30am yesterday at the junction of Mayes Lane and Penny Royal Road.

A police spokeswoman said a double-decker bus was in collision with the BMW, which had been towing the second car on a trailer.

Mr Spalding, of Canewdon, Rochford, had to be cut free from the wreckage after the incident. He suffered pelvic and chest injuries.

His father Eric Spalding, 71, of North Hill, Little Baddow, also received chest injuries. Both were described as being "comfortable" in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

A second passenger in the car, Daniel Waterlow, 18, from Romford, was released from hospital after treatment for neck injuries along with two female passengers on the bus.

The road was closed off by police as attempts were made to free Mr Spalding. He was freed almost an hour later and taken straight to Broomfield Hospital by ambulance. Seven ambulances were called to the scene.

The road remained closed until late afternoon while a vehicle came to recover the bus and the road was sanded down.

Chris Bryant, who was at work at the Danbury Mission when the accident happened, was first on the scene.

"I heard a thud and saw the accident," he said.

"The bus came up the hill and it moved over to try to avoid the car and hit a tree stump.

"The driver was a very lucky man to get out of that alive considering the other car landed on top of his car," added Mr Bryant.

Chelmsford traffic police are appealing for any witnesses to contact Sgt Tony Byrne on 01245 491212.

An elderly couple from Chelmsford have been killed in a crash in Cambridgeshire.

Donald and Jean Orrin, aged 74 and 73, died when their car collided with a lorry on the busy A47 at Wansford, near Peterborough

The husband and wife, of Roland Road, died following the crash at 10.55am on Monday.

The lorry driver, a 61-year-old man from Whittlesey, escaped with minor injuries.

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