Questions have been raised about the council’s road gritting operation after eight crashes this morning.

Five accidents were reported in Waltham Abbey, with roads in Nazeing, Epping and Loughton also affected as drivers were caught out by widespread icy conditions.

It is not thought there were any serious injuries, although a man in his 50s was taken to Whipps Cross hospital following an accident in Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, at around 6.30am.

The road was closed between the A121 and Avey Lane but has now re-opened.

Sheet ice on the road had been caused by a burst water main.

A burst pipe was also responsible for a four vehicle crash on Ranger’s Road, which links Loughton with Chingford.

The crash between a Ford Transit van, a Fiat, a blue Saab and a Citroen C4 shut the road between Warren Pond Road and Epping New Road shortly before 6.30am, but there were no injuries or arrests.

Two people were said to be “walking wounded” after another crash caused by ice on the Crooked Mile in Waltham Abbey at around 7am, and two more received minor injuries after a crash in icy conditions in St Leonard’s Road, Nazeing, at around 6.55am.

It is not known if ice was responsible for a crash in Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey, where a van and car blocked the road after crashing, or on the M11 southbound in Epping where a crash damaged barriers and stopped traffic at around 8am.

Accidents have also been reported on Upshire Road and Crown Hill in Waltham Abbey.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said Essex County Council gritted roads last night and added: “As always we would expect drivers to ‘expect the unexpected’ on mornings like today by adapting their driving to the conditions and taking extra care on the more rural exposed sections of the network.”

A spokesperson for the AA said the large numbers of accidents raised questions about the council’s gritting operation.

He said: “If any of the roads are on the gritting schedule the question is whether the council was caught out.

“It seems the weather forecasts were pretty accurate in predicting temperatures would drop.”