A HUSBAND and wife who were killed when their car crashed into a bridge on the A120 and burst into flames have been named by police.

Andrew Smith, 48, and his wife Sharon, 44, of Holland Road, Clacton, died after their silver Ford Focus was involved in a collision at 2.45am on November 28.

Essex Police have formally identified the couple through DNA and will now submit a report to HM Coroner and an inquest will be held in due course.

The couple are believed to have been travelling back home when their car left the road and collided with a bridge support between Ardleigh and the A133 Clacton turn-off.

Firefighters were alerted to the crash by the police and crews from Colchester and Wivenhoe were on the scene shortly before 3am.

A spokesman for the fire service said they had been able to put out the fire quickly, but there was little they could do for the victims in the vehicle who were dead when the crews arrived.

The bodies were cut free from the wreckage and crews remained on the scene while the road was cleared of debris and crash investigators began their work. The eastbound carriageway of the A120 was closed for almost five hours.

Ambulance spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “Sadly two people were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Our thoughts are with their families at this tragic time.”

The family of Mr and Mrs Smith did not want to provide a tribute or photographs.