A MAN has been left with serious injuries following a six-vehicle crash on the A12.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening on the Colchester-bound carriageway between junctions 19 at Boreham and 20 at Hatfield Peverel.

Essex Police were called to the scene at about 4.10pm after reports came in that multiple vehicles were involved in a collision.

Other emergency services also attended, including both the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and the East of England Ambulance Service.

Fire crews from Witham, Chelmsford and Great Baddow were also at the incident, and one person was trapped and required assistance to be freed.

Braintree and Witham Times: Landing - the air ambulance on the scene of the crash

Both the London-bound and Colchester-bound carriageways were closed for a number of hours while the emergency services worked.

Queues quickly began to build up with traffic stretching back for more than three miles in both directions.

Motorists were being told to use the B1137 through Boreham and Hatfield Peverel, however, this route also became congested.

Routes did not return to normal until later on in the evening, with the London-bound carriageway reopening at about 7pm.

The Colchester-bound side where the incident occurred did not reopen until later at about 8pm after the incident was fully cleared.

A driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries as a result of the crash, however, Essex Police have said that this is not believed to be life threatening or life changing.

Braintree and Witham Times: Collision - six vehicles were involved in the crash that left a man with "seriously injuries" (pic: Witham Fire)

Essex Police appealed for anyone with information or for witnesses to come forward.

A spokesperson said: “Our inquiries are ongoing, and we need anyone who saw anything or has dash cam footage to contact us.

“If you have any information you can submit a report online at essex.police.uk or use the ‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.

“Please quote incident number 720 of April 6.

“You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”