Relatives of the victims of the A23 horror crash will have to wait several weeks before they find out the cause.

Eight people died on May 16 when a BMW travelling south crossed the road near Pyecombe and hit a Land Rover Freelander heading north.

Chief Inspector Jim Read, in charge of Operation Devonshire, said the investigation involved dozens of people including witnesses, police and the Highways Agency.

Mr Read said: "It will be several weeks yet. It is a massive inquiry. Eight people died and we are determined to leave no stone unturned."

He thanked the public and the media for their assistance but said speculation as to the cause had been unhelpful and hurtful to the bereaved families.

Killed in the BMW were Aaron Sharpe, 20, and his sister Katherine, 18, of Gossops Drive, Crawley, Gemma Smoker, 17, of Henshaw Close, Bewbush, Danielle Billingham, 17, who had just moved to Crawley, and Mitch Treliving, 19, from Faygate, near Horsham.

Killed in the Freelander were Kate Beasley, 30, her husband Toby, 33, and two-year-old Marcus Mohabir, all from Godalming, Surrey.

They had been on a day trip to Brighton with Marcus's father Stephen, 30, who survived the crash.

His wife Tracey, also 30, missed the day trip to attend a wedding.

No inquest dates have been fixed.