AN ELDERLY couple had to be rescued from their car after it crashed and flipped on to its roof on a roundabout at a busy retail park.

Police, paramedics and firefighters rushed to Mayflower Retail Park, Basildon, yesterday morning after the blue Kia Cerato ploughed on to the roundabout.

It is thought the 79-year-old driver had turned off the A127 to enter the retail park, at Gardiners Link, just after 11.20am, when the accident happened.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the car on its roof in the middle of the roundabout, near to the KFC restaurant and drivethrough.

Two crews from Basildon fire station had to use specialist equipment to cut the roof off the car to free the driver and his 81- year-old wife, who were left shaken by the incident.

The couple, who are from Basildon, were placed on to spinal boards and fitted with neck collars, but were not seriously injured. They were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Basildon Hospital.

They remained at hospital yesterday evening while tests and X-rays were carried out.

Rapid Response Paramedic, Barry Withers, who was first on the scene, said: “This incident really could have been much more serious than fortunately, was the case.

“It’s terrific that the care my colleagues and I were able to provide was enhanced greatly by the teamwork between us, the fire brigade and the police.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said no other vehicle was involved in the incident.