Ambulance chiefs were today taking action against Essex County Council after a "dangerous" road bollard allegedly caused £20,000 of damage to one of their vehicles.

They claim the ambulance was on a 999 call and travelling along the A130 near Rettendon at 60mph when it went to overtake a car.

It ploughed into a bollard, one of three often unlit and surrounded by high kerbs, on the dark narrow stretch of road.

Two repair companies have said the £48,000 ambulance is a write-off, while a third believes it will cost between £15,000 and £20,000 to put right.

Gordon Hudson, fleet controller at Essex Ambulance, said: "The ambulance was smashed up with a twisted chassis after being propelled through the air. The driver's door and the cab were destroyed. We are making a claim against Essex County Council."

He said hardly a day went by without an accident on the length of road outside the Plough and Sail pub. The bulky bollards are supposed to warn drivers to keep left and not overtake on the 60mph carriageway.

Mr Hudson said: "The bulbs are often out and the kerbs are very steep around them. They should have reflective paint put around them or there should be lampposts to shine down on them so they can be seen."

Roger Hutchinson, manager of Thorpe Bay-based Presidential Limousines and Coaches, is also considering taking action against the highway authority following another accident.

One of his drivers was allegedly left shaken after hitting an unlit bollard at 40mph in a limousine. The vehicle's tyres and wheels were left badly damaged.

Mr Hutchinson said: "It's a fatal accident waiting to happen along there."

Colin Cranley, spokesman for the county council's highways department, said the bollards were introduced in June in a bid to cut the high number of accidents on the road.

"I can't comment on the ambulance's accident but we will respond to Mr Hutchinson's specific concerns."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.