Two people have been injured after blocks of concrete were dropped on cars on a busy road in Essex.

Police say they are treating the incidents on the A12 as attempted murder.

A woman suffered multiple rib injuries and facial fractures when a block smashed through the windscreen of the car she was in as it passed under the West Hanningfield bridge near Chelmsford.

The incident happened at 10pm on Thursday and the driver also suffered cuts.

About half an hour earlier, a concrete block smashed the windscreen of another car as it drove under the Fryerning Lane bridge. The driver and passenger were unhurt but shaken.

An Essex police spokesman said: "Detectives are linking both incidents and treating both as attempted murder. Both bridges have been taped off while forensic investigations continue."