Three people fled from a van after it was involved in a crash on the A42 outside Ashby last night (Wednesday).

It was an incident that caused the route to be closed - with a police helicoper and dogs involved in the search.

The van was in collision with a car on the southbound carriageway between Junctions 12 and 13 at around 10.30pm.

But driver of the car was not injured - but the occupants of the van left the scene on foot and have still not been tracked down.

A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said: "Police are carrying out an investigation after a collision on the A42 southbound yesterday (23 March), between junction 12 and 13.

"Officers were called to the scene at 10.30pm after a report of a two-vehicle collision involving a car and a van.

"The East Midlands Ambulance Service were also in attendance.

"The three occupants of the van left the scene on foot before police arrived.

"The driver of the car was not injured.

"The A42 was closed in both directions while officers searched the area with the assistance of the police helicopter and the dog unit.

"The occupants currently remain outstanding and enquiries are continuing.

"Anyone who was travelling in the area and has dashcam footage that could assist with the investigation is asked to call 101, quoting incident 744 of 23 March."