THREE people were left injured following an early morning crash which left a car engulfed in flames.

Emergency services were called to Sutton Road, Southend, shortly before 4.30am on Saturday after receiving reports of a single-vehicle collision and a car fire near the Royston Car Garage.

Once at the scene police officers and firefighters found a black Vauxhall Corsa was completely on fire.

The vehicle set alight after colliding with a set of railings.

Firefighters from Southend rushed to contain the blaze and minimise the likelihood of an explosion and by 5pm the fire had been extinguished.

A spokesman for the Essex County First and Rescue Service said firefighters extinguished the fire by 5am.

Paramedics also attended the scene and treated three people who suffered injuries in the crash.

An 18-year-old woman suffered serious injuries to her arm.

The 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while Essex Police continue their enquiries.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called to reports of a single-vehicle collision on Sutton Road, Southend, just after 4.25am on Saturday 9 November.

“A black Vauxhall Corsa had been in collision with railings near to the Royston Car Garage.

“Three people were injured as a result of the incident, with an 18-year-old woman suffering serious injuries to her arm.

“An 18-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.

He has been released under investigation as our enquiries continue.

Gabrielle Stephens, of Ennismore Gardens, Southend, witnessed the incident while on her way to work and immediately phoned the emergency services.

She says she ensured the casualties were moved to safety as quickly as possible and away from the burning vehicle “in case it blew up”.

Ms Stephens said: “I was really shocked at first but then I got out of my car and called all the emergency services.

“The car had been run into the railings and then it caught alight.

“I helped them and made sure they stood away from the car in case it blew up.”