TRAFFIC problems in the area of Lakeside shopping centre and retail park were exacerbated this afternoon by a broken down lorry which was in a dangerous condition.

Significant delays were being caused by a backlog of traffic queuing to get into the McDonalds drive-thru on the retail park and then the container lorry broke down right in the middle of the main exit road.

Essex Police reported: "A126 towards A13 due to a broken down lorry which is in danger of falling over. Recovery are on their way but will be a while to sort this out."

And officers were critical of some motorists who approached officers trying to deal with the problem, to get directions. Officers at the scene tweeted: "DO NOT STOP ON THE ROUNDABOUT to ask us which way to go, it's dangerous and there have been a few near misses already. You will have to use your Google maps to find alternative route to where you want to go."