Motorists have experienced rush hour misery in Norwich tonight after two separate crashes, including one involving an ambulance car and a van.

Norwich Evening News: The badly damaged East of England Ambulance Trust rapid response vehicle on Mile Cross Lane, Norwich that was involved in a road traffic collision. Photo: Steve AdamsThe badly damaged East of England Ambulance Trust rapid response vehicle on Mile Cross Lane, Norwich that was involved in a road traffic collision. Photo: Steve Adams

A rapid response ambulance estate vehicle, which was responding to a 999 call, was involved in the first crash, with a Renault van, on Mile Cross Lane.

Norwich Evening News: The badly damaged East of England Ambulance Trust rapid response vehicle on Mile Cross Lane, Norwich that was involved in a road traffic collision. Photo: Steve AdamsThe badly damaged East of England Ambulance Trust rapid response vehicle on Mile Cross Lane, Norwich that was involved in a road traffic collision. Photo: Steve Adams

No-one was hurt in the crash, which happened at the junction of Weston Road at about 3.15pm, but it resulted in delays for motorists on the road and surrounding roads until after 6pm.

An investigation has been launched by police and the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) following the crash which was attended by another ambulance although no-one was taken to hospital.

The ambulance was recovered shortly before 6pm.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) confirmed the ambulance car was 'responding to a 999 call' at the time of the crash and said an 'internal investigation' would be carried out by the trust as was the case in any collision involving one of its vehicles.

He said: 'Our control room managed to dispatch another resource to the incident the car was on the way to so it didn't affect our care to the patient.

'No injuries were reported to our paramedic or to the person in the van.'

Boundary Road, Cromer Road, Weston Road and Woodcock Road were among the roads affected by the crash.

Meanwhile there was also disruption in the Unthank Road area of the city after a three car crash at the junction with Cambridge Street which has caused rush hour problems aswell. Fire crews from Earlham and Carrow were called to reports of the crash at just after 5pm and provided scene safety.

Bon Grubb, 29, ho works at Topps Tiles on Mile Cross Lane as a customer care assistant and was serving behind the counter at the time went to the aid of the motorists after the crash on Mile Cross Lane.

He said: 'I've never heard a bang like it - it was like a bomb going off. I couldn't believe it.

'I was the first person to venture out. I went straight over to see if there were any injuries or if they needed help. They both jumped out of their cars. They were really shaken.'

Mr Grubb said he got a cup of coffee for the driver of the van, who had been a customer in the store prior to the crash, and offered one to the ambulance driver who declined.

He added although another ambulance arrived neither of the drivers were taken to hospital with the van driver, thought to be in his 20s, waiting until his father came to pick him up.