A motorcyclist has been airlifted to hospital after a serious crash on the A12 between Marks Tey and Colchester, leaving drivers at a standstill.

The vehicle was a motorcycle combination which left the road and crashed in the nearside hedgerow.

A woman who was a passenger in the vehicle has injuries not believed to be serious.

She has been taken to hospital locally, however the rider is being taken by air ambulance to hospital in London with serious injuries.

At this time these are not believed to be life threatening.

There is a backlog of traffic due to the incident, which stretches between junction 25 on the A12 near Marks Tey and the crown interchange in Colchester.

The road has been reopened in both directions and traffic is moving slowly southbound.

Traffic near Colchester is also being affected, with police advising drivers to avoid the scene of possible.