A YOUNG family is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash that has closed Hadleigh High Street.

A 39-year-old mother from Benfleet, her two-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter are in Southend Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries after they were hit by an Audi TT outside McDonald’s in Hadleigh High Street at about 5.50pm yesterday.

The crash closed the London bound carriageway of the A13 between Endway and New Road for more than three hours as police investigated.

The 23-year-old driver of the car who comes from the Basildon area and his passenger were not injured in the collision, which smashed the windscreen of the car.

The mother appears to have been crossing the road with her son in her arms after buying dinner at Pegotty’s fish and chip shop, a few yards away.

Police want to speak to anyone who may have seen the Audi being driven before the incident or anyone who may have witnessed the collision.

Anybody that can help is asked to contact PC Dave Andre at Laindon Traffic Unit on Essex Police 101.