A man was in hospital today with serious injuries after plummeting from a bridge onto the railway line below.

The 38-year-old, who has not been named and has psychiatric history, had been reported missing by his family in Burgess Hill.

He suffered head, back, pelvis and rib injuries and is in a stable condition in the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath.

Three people in a car called police after seeing someone on High Bridge, Rocky Lane, near Haywards Heath, at about 9.20pm last night.

Firefighters had to rescue the man, who had landed on a steep embankment in a hard-to-reach area near the railway track.

A firefighter and two paramedics climbed over the bridge and down to the man, where they stabilised his injuries.

He was then winched back up to the bridge on a spinal board.

The power to the railway tracks was shut off from just before 9.30pm until 11.10pm during the rescue operation and trains stopped in both directions.

Many passengers had to continue their journeys by taxi or special bus service.

A spokesman for train operator Connex said: "We managed to get some buses running but they had to come from Essex - it was the nearest we could get them from at short notice.

"Obviously we apologise to customers but the circumstances were beyond our control. Our priority was to help the injured man on the line."

The incident is being investigated by British Transport Police.

Inspector Mick Morriss said: "The man fell probably about 100ft but his fall was broken by bushes and branches.

"We are speaking to the witnesses and the man involved and once we are satisfied a crime has not been committed we will close the case."