TWO off-duty police officers came to the aid of a couple left trapped after a crash on the A120.

The couple were driving towards the Galleys Corner roundabout when a lorry struck them, causing significant damage and major tailbacks.

Pc Samantha Claxton, who was driving to take a friend to Broomfield Hospital, was joined by Special Constable Pete Barron and two members of the public to help them.

They had not suffered serious injuries, but were suffering from shock and the driver was complaining of chest pains.

Pc Claxton supported the head of the driver and also kept the couple talking while the emergency services arrived.  Meanwhile, Sc Barron managed to get the traffic to move to allow the emergency services to get through.

Due to the damage to the car, the couple needed to be cut out of their vehicle by the Fire Service.

Pc Claxton said: "While I was speaking to the couple, I found out that they were from Plymouth and were visiting elderly relatives in Clacton to celebrate their wedding anniversary. I felt sorry for them as they had travelled such a long way, and this happened on the last part of their journey.

"They also told me that they had booked a Travelodge to stay in, but had realised that they had booked it for the wrong month. I was concerned as this potentially meant that they would be stranded with no way of getting to their relatives, nowhere to stay, and also no way of getting home”.

Pc Claxton offered to gather the couple’s possessions and clothes out of their car and take them to Broomfield Hospital.

Assisted by Sc Barron and a member of the public, the officer was able to get the majority of their clothes and possessions out of the car – which involved cutting open a suitcase to reach their clothes - and meet with the couple in A&E to return their items.

However, the couple faced further difficulty.

Pc Claxton said: "At A&E, the driver was discharged early, and it was apparent that getting to Clacton would be difficult, especially after their ordeal.

"I offered to drive them to Colchester, where they could meet a family member there and continue their journey, which they did”.

The accident happened on Friday, June 5.