Brighton police have issued an appeal for witnesses after a teenager was left fighting for her life after being hit by a bus on the Lewes Road. 

The 18-year-old was airlifted to hospital following the crash, which happened at the height of yesterday morning's rush hour at 8.35am near the junction with Ringmer Road. 

She was taken to Southampton Hospital neurological unit where she was described as being in a critical condition last night. 

The driver of the Compass Travel bus was uninjured, but described by his employers as "badly shaken" and "traumatised". 

The bus was travelling south in a bus lane on its way to the city centre to start its route when the accident happened. 

The road was closed for two hours to enable police to carry out an examination of the scene.

Natalie Banks, who was in nearby Barcombe Road at the time, was first on the scene. 

She told The Argus: "I went straight to her, covered her up with my coat and held her hand but she was unconscious and struggling to breathe.

"It was just horrific, They were doing CPR on her for over ten minutes. She was worked on in the road then they put her in the helicopter."

A spokesmanfor the bus company said: "There's no indication there was anything wrong with the bus and it was progressing normally along the road"

Police would like to speak to anyone who has any information or who saw the collision. Phone 101 or email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk and quote Operation Realm.