EMERGENCY services were called to a three-car pile up in Southend last night as two casualties were rushed to hospital.

The Londonbound carriageway of Prince Avenue was blocked before the Bell traffic lights, at the junction with Hobleythick Lane, as three cars collided.

Police, ambulance, fire services were all called to the scene shortly before 9pm last night.

Three fire crews, two from Southend and one from Leigh, were in attendance and used specialist cutting equipment to release one casualty from their vehicle by cutting out the car door.

The patient was removed from the vehicle and left in the care of the ambulance service by 9.21pm.

The ambulance service has sent three ambulances and one ambulance officer to the scene to treat the patients.

A spokeswoman for the service said: "Two patients – one male who was in and out of consciousness and one female with facial injuries were both taken to Southend University Hospital.

"Both patient’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening."

Southend fire station officer Barrie May, said: "All three emergency services worked very well together to a succesful conclusion."