More than a dozen people were hospitalised after treacherous weather brought chaos to Sussex roads.

Experts today predicted more bad weather after powercuts, floods and cancelled sports events took their toll on the county.

Businesses were also hit as many shoppers decided to stay indoors and postpone their Christmas shopping.

Motorists were warned not to set out unless journeys were necessary after several crashes and shunts stretched the emergency services.

Meanwhile fire control services had to be evacuated after a power cut in Eastbourne and the Environment Agency issued flood warnings on three Sussex rivers.

The worst of the road accidents happened on the A23 at Wilmington just after midnight on Saturday.

Three cars were involved in the smash which happened near to Drusillas Park and six people were injured. Two people had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and remain in a serious condition in hospital.

The road was closed for five hours as officers investigated the scene and recovered the three vehicles - a silver Audi, a silver Peugeot 106 and a blue Daihatsu. Polegate Road Police have issued an appeal for witnesses.

In a separate incident on the same stretch of road, a van and a car collided and span off the road at about 8am on Sunday. Paramedics treated both drivers for minor injuries.

In another incident two people were treated for shock and minor injuries after their car spun of the road and careered into a lamppost on the A23 between Hickstead and Bolney at about 9.50am on Sunday.

About an hour later three cars collided on the A23 near Muddleswood, at the Hickstead junction. No injuries were reported.

East Sussex fire control centre in Upperton Road, Eastbourne was evacuated at about 5am yesterday after a power cut affected the surrounding streets.

Workers moved to Eastbourne Fire Station to ensure service was not disrupted.

Control room manager Richard Moore said: "The power went down but we have back up generators. However it was a chance to put our evacuation plan into action and we moved to the fire station. It was business as usual."

The power was back on by Sunday evening but tests were being carried out before staff moved back to the control centre.

Other motorists were left exasperated yesterday after being held up behind a huge 135-tonne electrical transformer which was being transported across the county.

Drivers were warned to avoid large stretches of road to keep them from being stuck behind the mammoth trailer carrying the transformer from Shoreham Port to its new home at a substation at Potmans Lane in Ninfield, near Battle.

The transformer, shipped into Shoreham from Austria, was carried at a snail's pace of between 12mph and 15mph and took 10 hours to reach its destination.

It was accompanied by a six vehicle police escort, four bikes and two cars, a private escort, and various agencies to remove road signs along the way.

A spokeswoman for the National Grid: "We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to road users but this is essential to ensure the electricity supply in the area."

It was not just the roads which felt the affects of the stormy weather conditions.

Over the weekend the Environment Agency issued flood warnings for the Cuckmere river, the upper Ouse and the River Uck and said flooding was expected in low lying land and roads.

A Dover coastguard spokesman said a tanker off the coast at Beachy Head was also left in trouble by the strong winds yesterday afternoon.

The ship's engine failed so the captain dropped the anchor so the engine could be repaired. But the strong winds of up to 50 knotts caused the tanker to drift despite the anchor, causing the coastguard to send a tug out to assist.

Meanwhile residents were left counting the cost after four flats in Adelaide Crescent, Hove, were badly damaged by floodwater after loose tiles on the roof of the Victorian building came loose.

The sporting programme across Sussex was left decimated with scores of football and rugby matches called off, including every fixture in the Brighton Sunday football league.

The weather also hit shops expecting bumper Christmas sales as many shoppers decided to stay indoors.

Weather experts today predicted that winds would die down over the next few days but there is expected to be plenty of rainfall. Temperatures in Sussex could drop to as low as -4C on Monday night.