THREE men are being sought by police after they fled a late-night smash in Colchester.

The men were in a Peugeot 307 when it flipped over the road, in Mersea Road, and crashed into a hedge and landed on its roof.

Despite residents running out of their homes to offer assistance, the three men - one of whom appeared to have injured his chest - casually crossed the road into Queen Elizabeth Way, before running away.

Police launched a search of the area, including using the police helicopter, but the men could not be found.

Eye-witness Avril Lythgo, who lives opposite the scene of the crash, which happened at about 10.30pm on Sunday, said: "It was a miracle nobody was killed."

The 61-year-old added: "I could hear the car going up the road from a fair bit away.

"The music was blaring and then there was a horrendous bang. We had no idea what was going on."

Mrs Lythgo stayed in her home while her husband, Colin, went outside to see if he could help.

The grandmother-of-four added: "Everyone was telling them: 'You need to stay here, you've been in a crash,' but they just walked across the road into Queen Elizabeth Way and then ran off.

"One of the men was holding his chest, so he was definitely hurt - he would have needed to go to the hospital I'm sure.

"The car had completely turned over and it was smashed up and crushed up so badly, you couldn't really even see what kind of car it was

"We thought the police had caught them because the helicopter was up for quite a while, but obviously they haven't.

"I think they need to be caught. They could have killed themselves.

"If anyone had been walking on the pavement, they wouldn't have stood a chance."

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called at about 10.30pm on May 22 with reports of an overturned Peugeot 307 in Mersea Road, Colchester.

"The occupants had left the scene before officers and the ambulance service arrived.

"Police, assisted by a force helicopter, carried out a search of the area.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

Anyone with information on the crash should contact Colchester police station on 101.