Three people have been rushed to hospital after a crash on the A13 by the Tilbury turn-off.

The collision has caused major delays along the A13 back towards Orsett Cock and  Stanford-le-Hope after the Londonbound direction was closed around 3pm. 

Three people were involved in the crash, which overturned and wrote off a car by the A1089 approach road.

A man and a woman, both thought to be in their 50s, were driving the car which overturned, and a man in his 20s, was driving a van.

It is not known how the accident was caused.

Four ambulances, five police cars and three fire engines attended the scene at about 2pm.

The man in his 50s had to be cut free by fire engines, which took almost an hour, while the woman had escaped the vehicle by the time fire engines arrived at about 14.25.

All three were assessed for spinal injuries and taken to Basildon and Thurrock Hospital, each with their neck and back immobilised as a precaution. 

The car wreckage is now reported to be cleared, and all lanes are now open again.

More to follow.