A man has been arrested after a moped driver was seriously injured on a country road.

The 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving following the accident in Star Lane, Great Wakering yesterday.

The woman in her 30s suffered facial and head injuries and was taken to Southend Hospital following the 5.25am accident.

Following the accident a police spokesman said: “We are investigating following a collision in Great Wakering this morning which left a woman with serious injuries.

“A van and a moped were in collision at around 5.25am in Star Lane near the junction with Poynters Lane. The moped rider suffered injuries to her pelvis, head and face and was taken to hospital for treatment.

“A 49 year-old man from Great Wakering has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He is currently in custody.”

An ambulance spokesman said: “An ambulance crew and an ambulance officer were dispatched to the scene. They treated a woman believed to be in her 30’s who had suffered pelvic and head injuries. She was taken to Southend Hospital for further care.”

Star Lane and Poynters Lane have seen a number of accidents in recent years. Poynter’s Lane has a 60mph limit while Star Lane goes from 40mph down to 30mph near newly built houses but one councillor has questioned whether motorist are adhering to the limits there.

Ward councillor Neil Hookway, leader of the Friends of Rochford group, said: “There has been a history of accidents in the area. There was a fatal accident in Star Lane about four years ago. I’m a licensed taxi driver and I was taking a customer down Star Lane when a man was killed. My passenger actually gave him first aid.

“He had come out from the fishing lake and stepped into the road. A man died in Poynters Lane also not very long ago.”

Mr Hookway, 51, from Great Wakering, added: “The new housing development has made the road safer by reducing the speed limit in a section of Star Lane. Some people are not taking notice of the speed limit so that might be an issue we could look at.

“It’s a country road so there isn’t street lighting all the way so that also might be an issue but you have to ask whether it is a dangerous road or are people just not making the right decisions about their driving?”