THREE people were rushed to hospital following a crash on the A12.

Emergency services were called to the incident on the Colchester-bound carriageway near Witham this afternoon at about 1.30pm.

A police spokesman said the incident, which involved one vehicle, took place between junctions 20 and 21 at Hatfield Peverel and Witham.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service also attended.

Traffic was very slow back to Junction 19 at Boreham, with officers warning drivers' journeys being affected by the incident "for some time".

The East of England ambulance service confirmed it sent three ambulances and an ambulance officer vehicle.

"Three patients were taken to Broomfield Hospital for further care," a spokesman said.

The road reopened at about 3pm, with traffic remaining slow for the hours which followed.