A PENSIONER whose car went into a ditch, leaving her trapped for almost an hour, has died from her injuries. Barbara Stuart, 76, suffered serious leg injuries after the accident at about 2.

A PENSIONER whose car went into a ditch, leaving her trapped for almost an hour, has died from her injuries.

Barbara Stuart, 76, suffered serious leg injuries after the accident at about 2.10pm on Friday when her Renault 19 went across the road at Wickham St Pauls, near Halstead, before colliding with hedging and a tree stump.

It is thought the collision threw the pensioner, who came from Mill Bridge, Halstead, towards her passenger seat, leaving her trapped in the vehicle.

She suffered a broken right leg, broken left ankle, dislocated left shoulder, and pelvic injuries. She also had a dislocated left knee.

She was cut from the car by fire crews and then flown to Colchester General Hospital where she died later that night.

It was not initially thought that her injuries were life-threatening and she spoke to emergency service crews as they cut her from the wreckage.

No other vehicles appear to have been involved in the accident on the A131 towards Sudbury.

Speaking on Friday, before the pensioner died, paramedic Allison Arkley said: "She was lodged in the car, and it was a long and, for her, painful process to get her out. Considering her injuries, she was very brave and barely complained about the pain."

Fire crews from Hedingham, Halstead, Braintree and Colchester attended and police diverted traffic while investigations took place before the road reopened at 6.15pm.

Anyone with information about the accident should call Pc Dave Williams at Bocking road policing unit on 01376 330 722.

n Bocking road police are also appealing for witnesses after an 82-year-old driver died in a car crash near to Stansted Airport at about 7.30pm on Saturday.

The pensioner was in a Silver Mazda 626 which collided with a silver VW Polo travelling in the opposite direction and was also struck by a red Peugeot 106.

Emergency services attended but the man, who has not been named, was declared dead at the scene.

The B1383 at Stansted Mountfitchet remained closed until 11.30pm as officers carried out investigations.