TRAFFIC lights at a major south Essex junction are out of action after an “awful” late-night road smash left a car on its roof, a councillor says.

It is understood the incident, at Sadlers Farm in Benfleet, happened late on Friday night into the early hours of Saturday morning Ambulance, police, and fire services were on the scene.

Traffic lights at the London Road Tarpots side of the Sadlers Farm roundabout are still not working according to Tory county councillor Andrew Sheldon, who passed the accident this morning.

He said: “At 1.30am, I was driving back from a volunteering gig – I could see the blue lights from the distance and when I got to the roundabout there was a fire appliance, ambulance, and police there.

“Almost in the middle of the roundabout was a car on its roof with the glass smashed.

“It looked like a very serious accident and my thoughts and prayers are with anyone involved and emergency services who had to deal with the scene.”

He continued: ”Accidents of that speed and severity are incredibly rare on that roundabout.

“This is the worst accident I think I have ever seen on that roundabout.

“The cars must have been going at some speed for the car to roll into the middle of the roundabout.”

Essex Police has been contacted for comment.