A PENSIONER caused chaos on the A12 in Brentwood when he started driving down the busy road in the wrong direction.

Terrified drivers looked on as the 95-year-old man started heading north on the southbound carriageway, after joining the A12 at the Brook Street interchange, shortly after 11pm on Thursday, March 25.

Despite a steady flow of traffic approaching from the opposite direction flashing their lights at the man, he continued to drive at 40mph in the fast lane for five miles.

Police received more than 20 calls from motorists and sent patrol cars to close off access to the road.

Officers from the A12 Alliance road patrol unit, as well as road policing units and an Essex Police helicopter were also involved.

The man turned off the A12 at Mountnessing, where he was met by waiting officers.

The pensioner was escorted back to his home in Colchester in a squad car and his driving licence has been taken away from him.

Pc Alan Barlow, of the A12 Alliance patrol team, said: “Numerous police resources were used to stop this man and to safeguard members of the public.

“Luckily on this occasion no-one was injured.”

This is the second time an elderly driver has driven the wrong way down the A12.

In January this year, an 89-year-old man died after crashing head-on with a van near Ardleigh, in Colchester.