Four motorists were in hospital today following two separate crashes on the A12 near Colchester.

Firefighters cut free a woman from the wreckage of a four-vehicle pile-up on the southbound carriageway of the dual carriageway near Kelvedon at 12.30pm.

Crews had to use cutting equipment to gain access to one side of the vehicle to release the woman before she was taken by land ambulance to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.

She sustained neck and back pain and potential spinal injuries, none of which were thought to be life threatening, an East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said.

The vehicles involved were a grey VW Polo, a grey Audi A3, a silver VW Passat and a white Peugeot Partner.

The injured woman was the driver of the Audi.

The incident prompted police to close the road for around an hour.

Meanwhile, three more people were taken to hospital after a three-vehicle collision southbound on the A12 between Kelvedon and Marks Tey shortly before 2.20pm.

Paramedics treated five casualties, with three suffering neck and back injuries not thought to be serious, the ambulance spokesman added.

They were taken to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.