A suspected burglar broke his leg after jumping out of a first-floor window to escape police.

The man was believed to be rifling through bedrooms when he was disturbed by the householder, who came home to find her front door open in Whitley Road, Eastbourne.

She immediately called police and the intruder jumped 15ft on to concrete below. Officers discovered him writhing in agony and called an ambulance.

He was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital where it was discovered he had broken his tibia.

The incident happened on Monday at 1pm.

A spokesman for Eastbourne police said: "He is likely to be in hospital for a number of days so we have granted him bail, which he will have to meet when he is released."