PART of the A127 is closed in Basildon due to some escaped ponies.

The A127 at Noak Bridge is closed off due to some ponies on the loose running across the road and through traffic.

Traffic is queueing back along the A127 Southbound, heading towards Southend.

Police attended the incident.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to this incident. We made sure they were in a field and waited for another agency to deal with them."

The incident has now been cleared and the road has re-opened.

An Essex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Firefighters helped rescue two shetland ponies which had wandered onto the A127 near the Mayflower Retail Park.

"Crews from the animal rescue team quickly herded the two animals off the road and safely back into a field.

"They had got the two diminutive ponies back to the safety of a field by 8.48am.

"The incident caused tailbacks on the A127 as fire crews and police officers dealt with the ponies."