It is understood last night's protest was linked to the death of a 13-year-old boy who was knocked down by a car.

An ambulance and police were called to the Southend-bound carriageway of the A127 near the A132 junction in Basildon at about 20:00 GMT on Monday.

The Echo newspaper was publishing updates on the demonstration during the night.

It said the road was blocked near the Nevendon junction, leaving traffic in both directions at a standstill. Read the Echo report here, external.

Your Southend tweeted updates and photographs, external through the night.

BBC Essex understands the protest on the A127 was in response to the death of a 13-year old boy, who was hit by a car there on Monday. 

Demonstrators blocked the road near Basildon from just before 22:00 last night by parking two cars across the lanes.

One of the vehicles had writing scrawled across the side, saying: "We want a footbridge. How many more?"

In messages posted on Twitter during the night, Essex Police advised motorists of diversions in place. The A127 was closed at the junction of the A1245/A129.

Police said the force helicopter was drafted in to "monitor" the situation.

The road was finally reopened about three hours ago.

Essex Police first tweeted news of the road closure on the A127 late on Tuesday night.

The force described it as a "large protest".

This was the scene on the A127 last night. These photographs were tweeted by Rochford Conservative councillor James Cottis.

Hello and good morning. We're starting a bit earlier this morning with news that's come in overnight.

The A127 in Basildon was closed for several hours overnight as a result of a protest, leaving many motorists stranded.

We'll be starting with news of that story.