A BIKER suffered a serious hand injury after crashing with a car on the busy A127 as people headed to the beach.

Police closed the road and traffic was brought to a standstill in stifling heat after a red Peugeot collided with a motorbike Southend-bound between the Fairglen Interchange and Rayleigh Weir.

The motorcyclist, a man believed to be in his 50s, suffered a serious hand injury and bruising and space was cleared for the air ambulance to land at the scene.

The East of England Ambulance Service dispatched a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance crew as well as the Essex Air Ambulance and a volunteer doctor.

A spokesman added: “Medics treated a man, believed to be in his 50s, who was going in and out of consciousness.

“He was taken to Southend University Hospital by land ambulance for further care.”

The crash, which happened at about 11.10am yesterday, caused gridlock in both directions on the A127 as the road was temporarily closed by the police.

Drivers were left to swelter in the heat which reached highs of 26 degrees while the road was cleared.

One driver who has asked not to be named was heading to the beach with his partner when the traffic stopped.

The 29-year-old said: “I got on the A127 at Basildon and then the traffic halted suddenly just by Hovefields Avenue, by the petrol station. 

“It was a nightmare sat in the traffic in the heat - it just wasn’t moving. 

“The emergency services must have done a really good job because once the poor person was taken to hospital and the road reopened it started moving again really quickly. 

“There always seems to be a major crash on the A127 when the sun comes out. 

“I guess the road was busier than usual because people are heading to Southend to enjoy the weather.”

The road was reopened by 12.30pm once the crash had been cleared and traffic began moving slowly again.