TRAFFIC congestion is now beginning to clear and roads in the east of Thurrock are expected to be back to normal by noon following a major accident on the A13 this morning (Wednesday, 23 March).

It happened close to North Stifford on the London-bound carriageway shortly after 6.15am and involved a lorry overturning after being in collision with a car.

The driver of the lorry has been taken to hospital with injuries that are thought to be life-changing.

Emergency services including firefighters attended the incident and the carriageway was closed for several hours, causing problems on all adjacent roads, particularly back towards Stanford-le-Hope as people left the A13 to seek alternative routes.

At 11.10am police reported two lanes of the A13 had reopened to traffic and the road is expected to fully reopen at around lunchtime.

The statement added: "Our enquiries are ongoing, and we need anyone who saw anything or has dash cam footage to contact us.

"If you have any information you can submit a report online via this link where you can use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am and 11pm. Please quote incident number 112 of March 23.

"You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."