A family's bank holiday trip turned to tragedy after a horror road smash in which two women died.

Louisa Clowes, 88, died at the scene of the crash and a mercy dash by air ambulance to Colchester Hospital was unable to save the life of fellow passenger 66-year-old Jean Casey, of Bicknacre.

The smash between a silver Rover and a BMW convertible travelling in opposite directions brought the A131 near Braintree to a standstill at around 11.30am on Sunday.

Two men and a woman were today still seriously ill in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

Mrs Clowse, of Wharton Street, Retford, Nottinghamshire, and Mrs Casey, 66, of Thriftwood, Bicknacre, were in the Rover.

The driver, Mrs Casey's husband Patrick, 69, suffered serious head injuries in the crash and their daughter Sarah, 30, was today still in hospital with chest injuries.

Her fiance, 31-year-old Andrew Smith, of Bendlowes Road, Great Bardfield, suffered multiple injuries and was today in the intensive therapy unit of Broomfield Hospital.

Kelly Taylor, 28, of Carlton Park Avenue, Raynes Park, south London, the driver of the green BMW, and her 32-year-old husband David, both suffered minor injuries in the crash. Both are now recovering at home.

Traffic police at Bocking today issued an urgent appeal for help to trace any drivers who may have vital information.

If you can help call them on 01376 330722

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