A 27-YEAR-old man was help captive for around three hours after he was involved in a road accident in Essex, police revealed last night .

A 27-YEAR-old man was help captive for around three hours after he was involved in a road accident in Essex, police revealed last night .

The bizarre sequence of events unfolded at around 8.30am yesterday , when the victim was travelling in Chelmer Road, Braintree.

Police say his green Land Rover was in a collision with a blue Alfa Romeo – but then the 27-year-old, from Braintree, was bundled into an unknown vehicle and driven off.

A police spokesman said: "He was taken to an address in east London. He was held there for about three hours before being recovered. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for a check-up but not detained."

Three men and a woman have been arrested in connection with the incident and are being questioned by officers.

Det Supt Win Bernard , of Essex Police, said: "This investigation is still in its early stages. A team of officers is trying to piece together the events of this morning, and is looking into the backgrounds of those involved to discover any possible motive."

Police are appealing for anyone who thinks they have be able to help the inquiry to call Braintree officers on 01376 551312.