A 24-year-old man has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a two-car crash in Colchester this morning.

Police are appealing for information following the collision in Circular Road North, which happened around 4am.

The accident involved a grey Seat Ibiza and a black Ford Focus ST and the driver of the other vehicle, a 26-year-old man, from Colchester, was taken to hospital for minor injuries.

He was later arrested at around 6.45am on suspicion of driving under the influence and he remains in custody for questioning.

The road is closed both ways between Le Cateau Road and Circular Road East and is likely to remain shut for most of the morning according to police.

Sgt Colin Shead, of the Essex Police roads unit, tweeted: “Circular Road North, Colchester, closed due to a serious collision. Please seek an alternative route as this road is likely to be closed for most of the morning.”

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service: “We were called today at 4.04am to reports of a road traffic collision between two cars on the Circular Road North, Colchester.

“We sent two ambulance crews and an ambulance officer to the scene who treated two patients and transferred them to Colchester General Hospital for further care.”

Anyone with information or dash cam footage is asked to contact Stanway Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting incident 98 of 24/05 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.