A stolen car crashed into a tree - sparking hours of delays for drivers. 

A black Jaguar had been stolen from Southend before being spotted by officers. 

A police chase followed, ending when the car collided with a tree and came to a stop on the carriageway of the A127.

Police were forced to close part of the road, surrounding the Noak Bridge and Billericay exit, for roughly an hour. 

The driver of the car fled the scene and police could not find them. 

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We were called to reports a black Jaguar was stolen from an address in Barnstable Road, Southend at around 8.30pm on Wednesday 16 October.

"The vehicle was sighted by officers and a pursuit was authorised.

"The vehicle left the road on the A127 and was in collision with a tree before coming to a stop on the carriageway.

"The driver decamped and left the scene and our enquiries to locate them are ongoing.

"If you saw anything, have any CCTV or dash cam footage, or have any other information please call us on 101 quoting incident 1269 of 16 October or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."