A heritage sign has been destroyed after a driver crashed through it.

The Canvey Village memorial plaque was destroyed following the crash on the evening of September 22.

The driver fled the blue VW Golf after the incident had taken place near to the former King Canute.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: "Officers were contacted just after 11.20pm on Saturday, September 22, with reports of a vehicle colliding with a wall on Canvey Road, Canvey.

"We attended and the vehicle had been abandoned, however officers managed to contact the driver and established no one was injured."

Essex Police also confirmed that no arrests had been made following the incident.

Ray Howard, councillor for Canvey West was deeply saddened by the incident.

He said: "I was gutted when I saw it. I was coming back from church on Sunday morning and could not miss it.

"We worked hard for the sign to be put up, and it is part of Canvey's history.

"When things like this happen I feel like all the hard work that had been put in by so many was not worth it for somebody to crash through it.

"The sign represents a lot of information about the island."