Emergency services were faced with an "horrendous accident scene" after a car went out of control, rolled down an embankment and burst into flames killing a woman passenger on a slip road near the A12 Mountnessing roundabout early on Wednesday morning.

The woman, in her 20s, who was a passenger in the Peugeot, was found some way from the vehicle but police are not sure whether she was thrown from the car or pulled out by the driver following the accident at 1.25am.

He suffered cuts and bruises and a dislocated shoulder while the other male passenger suffered 30 per cent burns plus cuts and bruises. Both were rushed to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. All three are from the Harlow area.

Sgt Paul Moor of Brentwood Traffic Police said: "It was an horrendous scene. The female was apparently in the back but we are still trying to piece together what happened and whether she was thrown or pulled from the car. The carriageway was closed for three hours.

"We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the accident or the car travelling in the London bound track before the accident to contact us on 01277 201478."

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