A cow has died after it was struck by a car on the A12 near Hatfield Peverel.

Police were called to the A12 just after 3.30am today after a silver Vauxhall Astra struck a cow. 

It was believed that the cow was between the central reservation and the edge of road at the time of the crash.

The car was badly damaged but no-one inside was injured,

A man in a VW van, which was damaged by the debris, sustained minor injuries to his hands and face.

The Highways Agency has been alerted to arrange the recovery of the dead cow.

Commuters spotted the animal lying motionless on the hard shoulder of the southbound carriageway this morning.

Stuart Miller tweeted: "Not your average roadkill. I saw a dead cow on the A12 this morning."

Joey (‏@Joeeeeys) tweeted: "Anyone see the giant road kill just after Witham? Was it a horse? A cow? It looked like a baby elephant! So sad whatever it was."

An ambulance spokesman said: "We were called at 3.40am and we treated four casualties, who all suffered minor injuries.

"No-one needed hospital treatment."