Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man in his 20s was seriously injured when the car he was driving collided with a tree near the University of Essex.

The incident happened at about 7.10pm yesterday in Brightlingsea Road, Wivenhoe, near the junction with Colchester Road.

The driver, a man in his 20s and from the Manningtree area, was taken to Colchester General Hospital with serious injuries.

Police, firefighters and the ambulance service were all called to the scene.

The man was the only person in the car, a blue BMW, and no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Any witnesses to the collision or anybody was information about the events leading up to the incident are asked to contact the Stanway road policing office on 101.