THE A127 was closed for four hours after a five-car smash in the morning rush-hour.

The accident happened on the Southend-bound lane of the Rayleigh Weir underpass at 7am, forcing traffic to use the roundabout to rejoin the A127. The road had reopnened by 11am.

A 28-year-old woman, from Rayleigh, had to be cut free from her red Citroen C2 by firefighters from Rayleigh, Leigh and Hadleigh.

Sub officer Steve James, of Rayleigh fire station, said the woman had to be removed through the roof of the car using a spinal board as a precaution.

He said: "She was conscious, she was quite calm really.

"She was deaf so it was just a case of one of our guys keeping eye contact with her and talking her through what we were going to do, but she was pretty calm."

The woman suffered a head injury and leg injuries in the crash.

She was taken to Southend Hospital but her injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

A 65-year-old man from Westcliff, who was driving a Volkswagen Beetle, was also taken to Southend Hospital by ambulance.

He suffered injuries to his right arm and abdomen and his condition was described as 'fairly serious'.

The crash also involved a white Iveco van, a silver Vauxhall Zafira and a red Ford Escort, which were cleared away by the local authority.

The crash also left traffic backed up on the A13 after motorists tried to use alternative routes.