A MOTORCYCLIST has suffered serious injuries after a crash which shut a major road for almost two hours.

The A13 near Lakeside, at Stifford, was closed before 9.55am on Friday after a crash involving the biker and a car.

A section of the road was shut until 11.30am while emergency services dealt at the scene.

Two ambulances and an ambulance officer vehicle were sent to the scene and the biker, in his 70s, was rushed to Basildon Hospital for treatment.

Essex Police has now confirmed the man suffered serious injuries.

A spokesman for the force said: "We were called shortly before 9.55am on Friday following reports of a collision involving a motorcycle and car on A13 at Stifford.

"The rider, 70s, was taken to hospital after he sustained serious injuries.

"The section of road was closed whilst we dealt at the scene and fully reopened at 11.30am."

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called just before 10.15am to a road traffic collision involving a motorcycle on the A13 near North Stifford. Two ambulances and an ambulance officer vehicle were sent to the scene.

“The motorcyclist, an adult man, was transported to Basildon and Thurrock Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”