ESSEX police are using a specially-adapted Ford Galaxy to help investigate road accidents. The vehicle, which has been developed for tasks such as measuring skids and braking distances, is being used by the force's accident investigation unit.

Special features include a cut-out system for the ABS anti-lock brakes, so that the wheels can be locked to induce a skid, a gun which fires chalk pellets to mark the road at the point where the brakes are applied and a computer that measures the speed at that moment. It also has rear racking to carry the unit's equipment and take vehicle parts away for examination.