A teenager was in hospital today after he was involved in a road accident with a police car.

The 16-year-old was walking along Larkspur Drive, Eastbourne, when he was struck by a Toyota Avensis patrol car yesterday evening.

The car was travelling towards the junction with Rotherfield Avenue.

The boy, who is from the area, received serious leg injuries and was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Two traffic police officers in the car were not injured.

Jean Gilchrist, chairman of North Langney Residents Association, said the road was often used as a short cut across town.

She said: "The road is always busy but traffic has been slowed down because when the school was built they put in traffic calming measures.

"It's used such a lot and is terribly busy though."

A police spokesman said: "They were just on a routine patrol, they were not answering a call.

"Like any collision we need people to come forward and tell us what they saw."

Sergeant Jim Read, of Polegate traffic police, said the incident would be investigated.

Anyone who saw the incident, which took place shortly before 5pm, is asked to contact Acting Sergeant Lee Essex on 0845 6070999.