Elderly woman escorted off dual carriageway by armed police unit after taking wrong turn on her mobility scooter

Police had to escort an elderly woman on a mobility scooter off a major dual carriageway after she took a wrong turn in Essex.

The pensioner unknowingly turned on to the A12 at Marks Tey, forcing stunned drivers to swerve out of her way.

Essex Police’s specialist firearms support unit was dispatched immediately after motorists spotted the woman driving towards Chelmsford in the left-hand lane at 8.30am on Thursday.

The officers created a rolling road block before escorting her to safety, causing delays to motorists travelling on the busy A-road in rush hour.

Essex Police’s firearms support unit tweeted: “Vulnerable female took wrong turn onto A12 at Marks Tey - the team had to put in a rolling road block and escort her to safety - sorry if you were slightly delayed.”

Mobility scooters can normally travel up to 8mph and are advised to keep to the pavement if possible.

Essex Police said in a statement: "We were called to concerns for the welfare of a woman on a mobility scooter on the southbound A12 near Stanway at around 8.30am (Thursday, May 24).

"We located the woman and brought her off the road and ensured her safety.”

The A12 is a major A-road linking London to Ipswich and has a speed limit of 70mph.