The air ambulance was scrambled after a woman was found with severe abdominal injuries in Maldon yesterday.

The woman, aged in her 30s and from South Woodham Ferrers, was discovered in a ditch near Morrisons in Limebrook Way at 5pm.

Police were contacted shortly before 3.30pm following the concerns of the welfare of the woman.

An ambulance service spokesman said: “We were alerted at 4.59pm and dispatched the Essex Air Ambulance, two response cars and a duty officer to the scene.

“A woman was treated by land and air ambulance crews before being taken to Broomfield Hospital by a land ambulance for further care.”

She remains in hospital in a stable condition.

The injuries were self-inflicted and the police are not taking any further action.