A MAN has been taken to hospital following a collision between three cars on the A127.

One lane was blocked on Southend Arterial Road, London-bound, at Kent Elms Corner following the accident, which occurred just after 9am, until about 3pm with queues and congestion being reported as far back as the Tesco roundabout.

Tailbacks were also forming on Bridgwater Drive due to motorists heading towards the A127 being forced to turn round.

The East of England Ambulance Service was called and treated two people, one of which was sent to Southend Hospital, while police officers blocked the road and a member of British Transport Police directed motorists around the wreckage.

An ambulance spokesman said: "The East of England Ambulance Service was called to the A127 just after 9am to a road traffic collision and sent a rapid response vehicle and two ambulances to the scene.

"A man with a head injury was taken to Southend Hospital and a woman was assessed at the scene but was not taken to hospital.

"Neither injuries are believed to be serious."

An Essex Police spokesman added: "Officers were called at 9.05am following reports of a multi-vehicle road traffic collision on the junction of the A127 and A1015 in Southend.

"Officers attending found a Honda Civiv, Vauxhall Zafira and Citroen Saxo had been involved in a traffic collision around the area.

"Damage was also caused to railings at the location but there were not believed to be any serious injuries sustained."