TWO vans crashed on a main road, leaving both drivers in hospital.

The accident happened on the A21, Ebdens Hill, Kent Street, between St Leonards and Sedlescombe, at about 3.30pm yesterday.

A silver VW Caddy van travelling south collided with a white Mercedes box van travelling north.

The white van was reportedly loaded with beds or mattresses, with the van’s rear box section breaking away on impact.

Two fire engines from Hastings were called to the scene by police, where firefighters freed one of the drivers.

Three Secamb ambulances were also dispatched.

The VW van driver, a 50-year old St Leonards man, was taken to King College Hospital in London with serious injuries.

The driver of the Mercedes van, a 31-year old man from Swanley, was suffering from chest pain and was treated at the Conquest Hospital.

As a result of the collision the road was blocked and did not reopen until 9pm.

Sergeant Dan Pitcher of the Surrey and Sussex Road Policing Unit described the incident as a “difficult and protracted extrication” and praised the teamwork of the emergency services.

Sgt Pitcher added: "We are appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicles on the A21 just beforehand, or who saw the collision itself, to contact Sussex Police via collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting Operation Draper."

The crash follows an accident last September on the A21 between the Marley Lane junction and the A2100 London Road junction, involving a lorry, a van and a car.