A MAN was left with serious injuries after the car he was travelling in left the road and careered into a field.

The black VW Golf was travelling northbound up the A12 between junctions 11 and 12 on Saturday night when it left the carriageway.

The occupant, a man in his 20s believed to be from the Brentwood area, suffered serious chest injuries. He was taken to the Royal London Hospital by ambulance where is he receiving treatment.

A police helicopter was sent up to help search for the vehicle's occupants at 12.20am on Sunday - around 50 minutes after the incident was first reported.

Witnesses to the incident are asked to contact Pc Dan Corr at Chigwell Roads Policing Unit via Essex Police on 101.

Part of the northbound carriageway of the A12 was closed until around 4.30am on Sunday.