A BIKER has been taken to hospital following a collision with a taxi outside the Kusaal in Southend.

It is believed the incident, which occurred around 6pm on Southchurch Avenue, happened after a blue Toyota AC Radio Taxis car was pulling a u-turn in the road to park in a nearby taxi-bay when the bike, which was heading towards the seafront, clipped the car and sent the rider and bike sliding 30-yards further down the road.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the biker, believed to be male, clip the car and were led to believe his injuries were not life threatening.

The force of impact took the bumper of the front end of the car, and the bike lost its right hand handle in the collision.

Two police units, an ambulance and fire engine attended the scene.