A CAR crash has closed the A12 at Marks Tey.

Three vehicles crashed just after the junction on the Londonbound carriageway at about 6.45am.

Cars are already queuing back to Eight Ash Green.

UPDATE 7.30am

The A12 is still closed.

Traffic is being diverted via the exit and entry slip roads at the Marks Tey junction.

Cars are queuing back to Ardleigh and onto the Colchester bypass.

UPDATE 8.25am

The road has now reopened.

Traffic is still queuing back to Ardleigh.

UPDATE 8.20am

Queues of traffic are now going back past Ardleigh towards Dedham - an estimated eight miles from the crash scene.

UPDATE 8.40am

Firefighters were called to the scene to cut a man free who was trapped in his car.

Crews from Witham and Colchester attended at 6.38am.

The man has been left in the care of the ambulance service.

Our photographer Steve Brading is stuck in the traffic. He has just tweeted this photo:

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

UPDATE 8.55am

Delays are beginning to ease after this morning's crash.

Traffic is now queuing back to Eight Ash Green.

UPDATE 10am

The road is now clear and traffic is flowing freely. 

UPDATE 10.10am

The ambulance service was called to the accident at 6.17am.

An ambulance crew and rapid response vehicle attended.

They treated one patient with neck and back pain. The man was taken to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.