A Southend MP has said he is backing residents calling for the closure of a rat run to the A127.

Support from Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, has come after a meeting with ward councillor Stephen Aylen, who outlined how the A127 junction on Oakwood Avenue, in Leigh, has become a danger to residents and a hindrance to traffic flow.

Residents have been calling for the junction change for some time and previously handed a petition to Southend Council, but the council refused to consider it until the work at the Kent Elms junction was completed.

Sir David met with Mr Aylen just days after an accident on the road saw two motorists rushed to hospital for treatment.

Sir David said: “If I was a local resident living in an area which had become, in a sense, a rat run I would be less than pleased and would want it stop.” He will approach the local authority to start a consultation on the plans.