STANFORD-le-Hope's rail crossing has reopened this evening (Friday, 27 December) after an incident when a car crashed into the barriers.

It has been reported locally that the vehicle was being pursued by a police car, but that has not yet been confirmed by Essex Police, who have promised a statement as soon as possible. British Transport police says it is unaware of any incident.

Nub News understands that it happened some time after 3pm, with the crossing being closed in the wake of the vehicle's impact with the barriers. C2c trains heading through Stanford-le-Hope were stopped at both Pitsea and Tilbury and passengers disembarked.

However, the service was later restored, with some delays, once engineers were on scene at Stanford to manage the situation.

First Bus services were put on diversion, from Stanford town centre, via King Street and Stanford Road, though stops at the rail station and London Road were missed out.

The crossing was reopened to traffic around 5.30pm, but engineers say it will be closed at some point either in the evening or tomorrow when parts arrive so they can properly repair the barriers.

Police have left the scene.

An eye-witness to the incident contacted Nub News to say: "I was in my car at the front of the barriers (on the side where the bus stop is) waiting to cross so can confirm there was a police chase coming from St Clere's way, up the road towards town.

"It was a Silver ford Ecosport, going around 30-40 mph that swerved the queue of cars waiting at the barrier by going onto the wrong side of the road (now head on with my car).

"It smashed through the barrier, swerved back on to the correct side of the road and kept heading up the hill.

"The police car braked and stopped just short of the barrier.

"Lots of people were at the station on my side of the barrier, waiting by the ticket machine, who ran out the way as looked as if the car was going to hit them when it swerved initially!"

Updates will follow as we obtain more information.

Those who are able can get bus and rail update via the following links on X.

First Bus: https://x.com/FirstEssex?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

c2c: https://x.com/c2c_Rail