A young Colchester mother has died in a crash just yards from her home - but her three young children survived.

The 30-year old hairdresser had just taken her children, aged three, five and seven, to the park in Mill Road, Mile End.

Her car, a VW Jetta, was stationary when a Daimler, containing an elderly couple from Nayland who had to be cut free by firefighters, was in collision with it.

Both cars hit a brick wall surrounding an electricity sub-station near Defoe Crescent at 4.50pm yesterday.

The married woman, who worked in West Mersea, was trapped beneath the car and had to be rescued by firefighters.

She was taken to Colchester General Hospital but died at 1.30am today (Friday).

The children left motherless in the Mill Road crash escaped with minor injuries.

They were taken by fire engine to the accident and emergency department at the nearby Colchester General Hospital so ambulances could remain at the scene.

Their injuries were not believed to be life threatening, though the youngest suffered a broken leg.

Two elderly people in the Daimler involved in the crash were cut free by firefighters using specialist equipment. They suffered minor injuries.

When emergency services arrived at the scene opposite Defoe Crescent the wires were live. Firefighters had to wait until the electricity board isolated the power before trying to free the trapped casualties.

Power was cut off in the area for around one-and-a-half hours.

Acting Station Officer Mick Kirby, of Colchester fire station, said up to 12 firefighters were involved in the rescue.

He said: "The cars were not actually touching the cables but they were very near to them.

"There was a substantial risk of fire because both vehicles were on their sides with fuel inside them and the electrical source in close proximity.

"We could not begin cutting the roof until the power had been turned off as there was a risk of it touching the cables."

Fire crews remained at the scene until the wreckage had been cleared by police because there was a danger the fuel tanks could burst into flames.

Last night there was a separate fatal accident in north Essex. Driver John Crouch, 40, of Rectory Road, Little Oakley, died in the crash at Beaumont.

A police spokesman said two cars were travelling along Thorpe Road at 6.30pm last night when the crash happened.

Mr Crouch was driving a Toyota Camry towards Harwich when his car was in collision with the Land Rover which was travelling towards Thorpe.

The Land Rover driver Raymond Gray, 32, of Stokebridge Maltings, Ipswich, suffered minor injuries and was treated at Colchester General Hospital.

Police have appealed to any witnesses of either accident to contact them on 01206 762512

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