THREE people were taken to hospital for treatment after a five-vehicle crash on the A12 near Colchester.

The southbound carriageway was blocked between junction 27, Colchester, and junction 26, Stanway, following the accident, which took place at 8.19am on Monday.

Essex Police were called to the scene and held traffic whilst initial recovery of the vehicles took place.

Traffic queued as far as junction 29 at Ardleigh, with drivers facing delays of around an hour.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "We sent the Hazardous Area Response Team, three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance officer.

"Three patients were taken to Colchester Hospital for further care."

All lanes were reopened at around 10.30am and delays began to ease.