THE A27 will not be fully reopened for a “number of weeks” as the police continue to investigate the scene of the air crash.

The county’s busiest road has been partly closed since the disaster when the Hawker Hunter jet piloted by Andrew Hill crashed into the road.

Over the following week, the details of the dead emerged as the pilot survived and remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Yesterday, Neil McCarthy, a friend of Mr Hill, told local radio the pilot was “doing very well considering what he has gone through”.

Mr Hill was described after the crash as a “gifted” airman and was moved to a specialist hospital after receiving immediate treatment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

The Highways Agency said fully reopening the A27 was subject to the completion of the police investigation for which a spokesman for the police said there was “no exact date”.

The road first reopened eight days after the disaster and the route is subject to strict conditions.

One lane of the westbound carriageway remains closed while investigation work continues by the roadside.

There is a 40mph speed limit in place and the traffic lights at the Sussex Pad junction, which were damaged in the incident, have been removed.