Drivers are being urged to avoid a busy road following a serious crash earlier this morning.

Police have confirmed two people were injured when after a Ford Transit panel van and a Ford Fiesta collided along the The Strood in Peldon.

The road, which is the main route to and from Mersea Island, is understood to be blocked in both direction and one driver has described the road as a "no-go". 

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We’re asking drivers to avoid The Strood in West Mersea due to a serious collision.

We’re asking drivers to avoid The Strood in West Mersea due to a serious collision.

We were called at 7.30am today, Thursday 21 February, with reports of a collision involving a Ford Transit panel van and a Ford Fiesta.

Both drivers have been injured. pic.twitter.com/CxOu33YEnu — Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) 21 February 2019 "We were called at 7.30am today, Thursday 21 February, with reports of a collision involving a Ford Transit panel van and a Ford Fiesta.

"Both drivers have been injured."

Officers say they are working as quickly as possible to clear the road.

A spokesman for the East England Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 7.29am with reports of a collision in The Strood, West Mersea.

"We sent two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance officer.

"Two patients were taken to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment."

Update - 9.57am

One side of the road has now been reopened as police look to ease congestion in the area.

Writing on Twitter, PC Tom Raes said: "We have opened one lane to get traffic moving whilst we await recovery. 

"Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you to those of you who have been patient."

The road fully reopened just after noon.