MOTORISTS faced long delays on the Colchester stretch of the A12 for the second day in a row this morning.

A gas leak near Kelvedon on the southbound carriageway closed a lane.

Slow moving queues snaked back five junctions past the Weston Homes Community Stadium following the lane closure at about 7.30am this morning.

The A12 was completely reopened at about 1.30pm after six hours of delays.

It follows road and rail misery yesterday.

Trains were cancelled after over-running engineering works in Ipswich and two broken down cars and a crash between a car and a lorry led to long tailbacks on the same stretch of road as today.

There were also two serious crashes in the borough.

Two people had to be cut free from their cars after a crash in Layer Marney.

Fire crews from Witham and Tiptree were called just after 11.30am yesterday.

A spokesman for the ambulance service confirmed both people were taken to Colchester General Hospital following the crash near Roundbush Road.

Both suffered neck and back injuries. 

And a man was rushed to hospital after a crash at the junction of Mersea Road and Napier Road at about 2.30pm.

Paramedics, police and firefighters were called to the area following a multi vehicle crash which closed Mersea Road.

Two white BMWs were among those involved.

A man was cut free from his car by fire crews before paramedics took him to hospital with back and neck pain. 
 

Were you caught in the A12 tailbacks today?

E-mail adam.cornell@nqe.com with your comments.