A CRASH involving three lorries, a car and a van sparked 11 hours of traffic chaos.

The central reservation of the A127 and a lamppost were damaged after the lorries - one of which was an Argos delivery vehicle - collided on the Southend-bound carriageway in the early hours of this morning.

Debris from the pile-up spread to the London-bound carriageway, hitting a passing car and van.

The road was closed between the M25 at junction 29 and the Halfway House pub, in West Horndon, while emergency repairs were carried out.

Three drivers were taken to hospital following the crash - but they escaped without serious injury.

Commuters faced severe rush hour delays, with miles of tailbacks continuing throughout the morning and into the early afternoon.

Clifford Laysell, 22, from Southend, was stuck in the traffic as he made his way to work shortly before 10am.

He said: “When I was going past they were recovering the vehicles and had closed the Southend-bound A127 back to the M25. Traffic was back to junction 27 on the M25 clockwise, and I was stuck in traffic on the London-bound A127.

“It took me two hours and 20 minutes from Southend to the M25.”

Ollie Bell, 20, added: “I turned onto the A127 at Upminster heading east at 7am and got forced onto the M25 as the A127 was closed, so I had to head towards the A12.

“From Upminster to turning onto the M25 roundabout it took 90 minutes. The traffic just didn’t move for over an hour, I was very late for work.”

The road reopened shortly before 1pm.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police were called just before 2.10am to reports of a collision involving three lorries on the Southend-bound carriageway of the A127 just before the Halfway House. Debris from the collision was spread across both carriageways.

“Three people were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries which were described as non-serious.

“One man remains in hospital for treatment for minor non-serious injuries.

“The road between Junction 29 of the M25 and The Halfway House was while damage to the highway and to live power cables was repaired.”

Witnesses to the crash or anyone with information to help with the investigation can contact PC Bob Colbert at the Chigwell Road Policing Unit on 101.