A police officer who was driving a patrol car had to be cut out of the vehicle after it crashed into another car on a busy road during rush hour.

Emergency services were called to the collision in Ditchling Road, Brighton, at 4.28pm.

According to reports, the accident caused a tree to be felled and traffic was snaked almost to Downs Junior School, between Fiveways and Upper Hollingdean Road.

A Ford Focus Neighbourhood Response Vehicle was responding to a reported cardiac arrest in Preston Drove when it collided with a Peugeot Expert van.

The female driver of the police car was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg, accompanied by a male constable also in the car who was taken to seek precautionary medical treatment.

The 45-year-old man who the police car was responding to was taken to hospital after collapsing in the street due to an unknown medical condition.

He was in a stable condition on Wednesday night.

The road southbound at Fiveways with Ditchling Road and northbound at Grantham Road was still closed until about 9pm last night.

Two fire engines from Preston Circus Community Fire Station were called to the scene at 4.33pm.

The crash caused traffic chaos during rush hour with many stranded on buses and in cars.

The severity of the incident meant congestion as far back as the A27.

Bus routes 26 and 46 were also diverted as commuters tried to make their way home from the city.

Eye witnesses reported several police cars and ambulances were also present at the scene of the crash.

A police spokesman said Sussex Police are urging any witnesses to come forward by calling 101 quoting the serial number 989/2711.