A SHOCKED witness told how youngsters took selfies at the scene of a horror crash as para - medics helped a seriously injured woman.

Ben Shillito, 37, watched on in horror as a woman aged in her seventies was struck by a Jeep in Rayleigh High Street.

He claims a group of teenagers who gathered at the crash scene took pictures and videos of “blood in the street.”

The incident took place at about 2.50pm on Friday.

The Echo revealed last week the pedestrian was taken to Southend Hospital with serious injuries.

She is still recovering.

Mr Shillito, of Hardwick Close, Rayleigh, said: “An ambulance was called and arrived very quickly, and the taxi drivers and other passers-by stood at the top of the Crown Hill junction to prevent traffic from entering the High Street until the police arrived, some 30 minutes later, to block off the road and start taking statements.

“Police spoke to the many by-standers, and moved on the groups of kids taking selfies with the ambulance and videoing the blood in the street.”

Jamie Burton, Rayleigh town councillor for Wheatley ward, called for action against the youngsters.

He said: “I’m not shocked, I’m not surprised. If anything it’s just a reflection of the society of today which is unfortunate. Youths have been bought up to think doing this is quite normal.

“I think their level of moral compass is slightly different to adults who didn’t grow up in the self-indulgent culture. They think it’s acceptable and it isn’t.”

Essex Police refused to comment on the allegations.

A man aged in his fifties, from Leigh, was reported for careless driving and will appear in court.

An ambulance service spokesman said: “We sent a rapid re - sponse vehicle and an ambulance and treated the woman at the scene for a head injury. Her condition was not life-threatening.”