A politician has called for improvements to the single carriageway stretch of the A120 to be a Government priority.

MP Priti Patel called a Parliamentary debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday afternoon to set out the economic and safety reasons for improvements between Braintree and Marks Tey.

She claimed the 12 mile stretch, which has been dubbed one of Britain’s 10 most dangerous road, must be dualled.

She said: “The importance of this road to the economic wellbeing of the region and the county of Essex cannot be understated.

“We are a great county to do business in.

“But our 20th century infrastructure is holding us back and holding businesses back in particular.”