A MAN was hospitalised after smashing a truck into a tree near Colchester and ending up in a pond.

The grey Toyota Hilux left Cressing Road, Braintree, and crashed around 8am this morning.

Essex Police confirmed the road was closed for three hours while fire fighters cut the man free.

A police spokeswoman said he was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, but that his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.