Emergency crews attended three serious road crashes in the space of four hours this morning.

At about 5.30am a Mercedes delivery van left the A23 northbound at Handcross and collided with a tree. No other vehicle was involved.

Fire crews freed the casualty using hydraulic rescue equipment but the male driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police closed the A23 as they investigated the cause of the crash, causing four-mile tailbacks on the A23 and around Slaugham and Stapleford where traffic was diverted.

Sergeant Jon Brydon, of North Downs road policing unit, said: "I wish to thank the public for the patience they have shown this morning. The next of kin has been informed but a formal ID has yet to take place."

At 9.30am, firefighters were called to another single vehicle accident on the M23 southbound between junction 8 and 9 north of Gatwick.

The driver of a silver Toyota lost control and rolled several times on the embankment before coming to rest on the motorway.

Two lanes were closed to traffic as firefighters from both West Sussex and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service worked to free the male casualty, who was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Minutes later, crews attended a crash on the A272 near West Grinstead, when a Toyota four-wheel drive smashed into a recovery vehicle, injuring two people.

Paramedics freed the female passenger of the Toyota while firefighters had to remove the recovery vehicle's doors and roof using hydraulic rescue equipment to release the male driver.

Both casualties escaped with non-life threatening injuries.

All three accidents are being investigated by Sussex Police.