A woman believed to be in her 80s has died following a two-vehicle crash. 

The woman, from Hertfordshire, was a passenger in a Vauxhall Astra that was in collision with a Volkswagen Polo that was heading in the opposite direction in Peldon Road, Little Wigborough.

The collision took place just after 1pm today.

The driver of the Astra, a woman in her 50s from Mayland, has been taken to Colchester hospital for treatment to injuries which are not believed to be serious.

The driver of the Polo, a 37-year-old woman, and a passenger, a five-year-old girl, have both been taken to Royal London Hospital for treatment to serious injuries.

A two-year-old girl who was also in the car has gone to Colchester Hospital but she is thought to have only minor injuries.

They are all believed to be from the Chester area.

Peldon Road currently remains closed while the scene is cleared but is likely to reopen in the next hour.

An investigation into the cause of the collision is being carried out by the Essex Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

Fire crews used two sets of cutting equipment to free three people.

Any witnesses to what happened or who saw the vehicles on the road prior to the collision are asked to call the unit on 101.