Police officers who tried to help a driver who crashed into an electricity pylon were subjected to abuse by a passer-by.

Officers, ambulance staff and fire crews attended the scene on the A13 at 7.30am yesterday.

The vehicle was blocking the road in both directions at the junction of Downer Road, Benfleet.

PC Ian Risden, from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team, was one of the police officers who attended the scene.

Soon after the incident, he tweeted to say that abuse had been hurled in his and his team’s direction when dealing with the situation.

He tweeted: “My team and officers from Essex Police roads policing unit have been trying to deal with a crash with injuries this morning in Benfleet.

“We have been subjected to abuse by a member of the public.

“This is not acceptable someone is injured and needs help.

“Disruption unavoidable.”

A spokesperson for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “Fire crews were called to the scene of a road traffic collision this morning.

“On arrival, firefighters reported that one person was trapped inside their vehicle, after it had collided with an electricity pylon.

“Firefighters worked with the electricity board to ensure the area was safe and were able to release the person by 8:50am.”

A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “We were called at just after 7.30am this morning to reports of a road traffic collision on London Road, Benfleet.

“A rapid response vehicle, two ambulance crews and an ambulance officer were sent to the scene.

“The patient, believed to be a male in his 30s, was transported by road to Southend University Hospital with head injuries. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.”

There was slow moving traffic on the A13 London Road at Bread and Cheese Hill due to an accident involving one vehicle.

A resident who lives nearby replied to his tweet by saying: “I would like to say unbelievable but I can’t. I live close, thanks for all the hard work from those of us who understand respect.