COMMUTERS heading to London faced gridlock today after a woman pedestrian was killed on the A12 near Colchester.The accident happened on the slip road from the roundabout at the north end of Ipswich Road onto the London-bound A12 at Ardleigh just before 4am.

COMMUTERS heading to London faced gridlock today after a woman pedestrian was killed on the A12 near Colchester.

The accident happened on the slip road from the roundabout at the north end of Ipswich Road onto the London-bound A12 at Ardleigh just before 4am.

Paramedics found she had multiple head injuries and could do nothing to save her. The van driver was treated for shock.

Police closed the carriageway while they carried out investigations and diverted rush-hour traffic through and around Colchester.

The road was re-opened around 8.30am.

Details of the woman, believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, had not been established.