Two police officers were taken to hospital with head injuries and shock after their car was involved in a crash.

The patrol car was in collision with another vehicle, mounted the pavement and hit an electricity pole.

The officers were answering a burglar alarm which had gone off at a shop and were heading out of Brighton along the Lewes Road, near the junction with Southover Street, when the accident happened.

Paramedics, an ambulance, a fire crew and police colleagues attended the scene near The Level at about 8.50pm.

The two male police officers had already managed to climb from the car, which police said suffered extensive damage.

Police crash investigators went to the scene but it is not yet clear how the accident happened.

The two officers were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Officer said the police car was in collision with a white Renault which ended up on the pavement.

John Anderson, of Hartington Road, Brighton, arrived at the scene as the accident happened.

He said: "I was just about to cross the road to where the police car had gone up on to the pavement. I'm so lucky. The police officers got out of the car and were slumped over the bonnet.

"I didn't see it happen but it looked quite serious."

Abigail Kennedy, 30, who is staying in Gladstone Terrace, Brighton, arrived at the scene minutes after the accident.

She said: "It was so lucky there wasn't a mother with a pushchair on the pavement. They would be dead by now."