EIGHT cars were involved in three crashes last night.

A woman in her 20s was treated for minor head injuries and neck pain after four cars collided on London Road in Leigh near the Thames Drive junction.

The grey BMW 325 convertible, black Ford Ka convertible, blue Ford Focus and black BMW 645 are believed to have driven into the back of each other and police called the ambulance service shortly after arriving at the scene at 6.45pm.

Police and paramedics were still on the scene at 7.30pm and the woman was expected to be taken to Southend Hospital as a precaution.

A silver Honda Jazz Sport and black BMW 320 were also involved in an accident on Southend Arterial Road eastbound between the Dunton Wayletts turning and Fortune of War roundabout, Laindon.

The accident blocked one lane of A127 and was reported to police just before 5.10pm before being cleared by 6.46pm. No-one was injured.

A two-car crash also blocked Bread and Cheese Hill also occurred in Benfleet.

The A13 London Road was blocked following the accident near Wheelers restaurant just before 6pm.

No one was injured.