A LORRY driver has been rescued after a crash which left him trapped with his cargo of more than 5,000 live chickens.

The lorry overturned on a roundabout over the A12 at the junction for Stanway at 7.05pm today, trapping the driver.

Three crews were dispatched from Colchester fire station along with the urban search and rescue team, and managed to cut the driver free from his cab by 7.40pm.

They also dealt with diesel spilling out of the vehicle, before helping the RSPCA round up some of the 5,280 chickens which had got loose and were running into the road.

Police were also at the scene to deal with traffic congestion.