POLICE investigating a crash in which a mum died trying to retrieve a mattress from the road have reappealed for help.

Laveen Stanley was on the Lakeside turn off leaving the London-bound track of the A13 when the mattress blew off from the roof of her car.

She pulled over to pick it up off the road when she was struck by a blue and yellow Isuzu recovery lorry.

The 53-year-old from Little Baddow Road in Woodham Walter was killed instantly.

The driver of the lorry was uninjured.

Police investigating the crash are now reappealing for witnesses to come forward.

Investigating officer PC Mark Thomas said: "We have had a fairly good response to our initial appeals for witnesses.

"People really do want to help us with trying to ascertain how this crash happened.

"However we are still keen to speak with those motorists who may have overtaken Laveen on the A13 and seen the mattress either on the car or in the road. They are all key witnesses."

Part of the road was closed for four hours in the aftermath of the smash while emergency services dealt with the scene and the vehicles were recovered.

Anyone with information about the crash, which happened at 3.30pm on Saturday August 4, can contact PC Thomas at the Laindon Road policing unit on 01268 541312.

A 28-year-old man from Burnham on Crouch was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been released on bail until November.