A driver who died in a crash which caused chaos for rush-hour commuters has been named.

Colin Clarke, 22, who lived with his parents in Brighton, was driving a white Mercedes sprinter van which careered off the A23 at Handcross and hit a tree at about 5.30am on Tuesday.

Firefighters had to use heavy cutting equipment to free him from the wreckage but it is thought he had already stopped breathing.

Mr Clarke, a single man, worked at Action Press on the Victoria Industrial Estate, Burgess Hill.

The accident caused severe rush-hour congestion as both lanes of the northbound carriageway were closed for the wreckage to be removed.

There were heavy build-ups, at one stage four miles long, in surrounding areas as vehicles were diverted off the A23 at Slaugham and diverted through Staplefield.

The tragedy reinforced calls for work to start on planned improvements at the accident black spot.

In May, the Highways Agency announced that long-awaited proposals to improve the A23 between Handcross and Warninglid were being brought forward.

A public exhibition was held in Handcross showing plans to widen the road to three lanes in both directions.