An elderly woman is still in hospital after a four-car pile-up closed a major road for more than three hours yesterday afternoon.

The crash on the A21 between Robertsbridge and John's Cross happened outside the 1066 Cafe at 4.50pm and casualties had to be freed by fire and rescue crews.

A 77-year-old woman from Tunbridge Wells, driving a BMW 320 car southbound, sustained serious injuries and has been detained for treatment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

Her car collided with a Vauxhall Corsa travelling north and driven by a 20-year-old man from Paddock Wood, near Tonbridge. He sustained a suspected broken wrist, cuts and bruising.

A Vauxhall Combo van following the BMW south was also caught in the collision, with its driver, a 49-year-old man from London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, and front seat passenger, a 57-year-old man, also from London Road, St Leonards, sustaining slight injuries.

All three male casualties were treated at the Conquest Hospital, St Leonards-on-Sea.

The fourth vehicle, a Ford Fiesta travelling north, damaged a wheel but its driver, a 23-year-old man from Robertsbridge, escaped injury.

Oil and debris was cleared from the scene by Highways Authority engineers. The A21 was reopened to through traffic shortly after 8pm. 

Anyone who saw what happened or noticed any of the vehicles being driven beforehand, and who has not yet contacted police, is asked to do so by emailing collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk, reporting details online or phoning 101, quoting serial 1047 of 31/08.