A man from Benfleet has died after a serious crash in North Essex this morning.

An investigation has been launched following the fatal crash in Point Clear Road, St Osyth.

Police were called to the scene, near the junction of Cow Lane, shortly after 6.15am this morning, Sunday 11 August, to reports that a BMW has been in collision with a tree.

Two men believed to be in their 30s, one from Benfleet and another from East London, were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Their families have been informed.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision, which officers believe may have occurred at around 1.30am this morning.

The road remains closed as police recover the car, but the force believes it will be open within an hour. 

Police would like to thank local residents and workers, particularly holidaymakers at The Orchards Holiday Village, for their compassion and their patience.

Anyone with information about the collision, or who has CCTV or dashcam footage available to view, is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 and quote incident 267 of 11 August.