Three people were hurt when a car skidded on a wet road and ploughed into the front of Lancing Parish Hall last night.

Fire crews had to cut two passengers free from the wreckage of the Rover. One had serious leg injuries and was taken to hospital.

The crash happened at 11.45pm and witnesses described the noise of skidding followed by a thump as the car hit the front steps of the hall.

Fire brigade Sub Officer Darren Wickings said: "The car had several people in it.

"Two people were trapped inside, the front passenger and a passenger in the back.

"It took about half an hour to cut them free with hydraulic equipment. The front passenger had quite severe leg injuries and a broken ankle."

The vehicle smashed into a wall beside the front steps of the hall, causing it to collapse.

One resident living opposite the hall said: "I heard a skidding and then a thump."

He said there were four people inside the old-style Rover although the driver had already got out by the time he had called the police.

One of the hall's caretakers was asleep above the hall but slept through the drama.

Caretaker Paul Rawley said: "It is a slippery road when it has been raining.

"I was upstairs but did not hear anything at all.

"One of our other caretakers was called out and I found out from a message this morning."

A 29-year-old man from Sompting has been charged with driving with excess alcohol in connection with the crash.