Horrified drivers swerved as a man plunged to his death from a bridge on to the road.

Two crashes happened at about the same time, making yesterday one of the worst days for incidents and jams on the A27 Brighton bypass.

The man fell to his death from a footbridge at Mill Hill near the Shoreham flyover.

The crashes happened during the morning rush hour at Southwick Tunnel and close to the Devil's Dyke turn off. One man suffered serious head injuries.

The jams prompted Sussex Police to urge commuters: "Give yourselves more time in the mornings - all drivers need to stay courteous and diligent."

The three incidents happened in the space of 40 minutes on the westbound carriageway of the A27.

8.17am - a Vauxhall Vectra and box van collided in Southwick Tunnel.

8.40am - a man, thought to be in his 20s, fell more than 100ft on to the carriageway in what is thought to have been a suicide.

8.50am - six cars shunted near the Devil's Dyke as they approached the backed-up lines of traffic. No one was seriously hurt.

Paramedics Joe Marshall and Simon Morton attended all three incidents.

They treated two patients in Southwick Tunnel, one with serious head injuries. He was taken to Worthing Hospital.

They were then sent to the bridge incident.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and an ambulance crew took over while the medics were sent to the Devil's Dyke crash.

One man suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Mr Marshall said: "The A27 is always busy, especially during the rush hour but its unusual to attend three serious incidents within such a short period."

Superintendent Paul Morrison, head of Sussex road policing, said: "I've been purposely driving the M23 to see how drivers behave.

"It seems the usual courtesy, mild manners and diligence motorists show during other times go out of the window during rush hours.

"What they fail to realise is that if they are in a rush to get to work, they can often end up in a collision.

"Even a minor prang can mean hundreds of other drivers are delayed and frustrated."