A CAR has crashed through barrier gates at a level crossing following a police pursuit.

The level crossing gates at Ford have been damaged after a car carrying two burglary suspects crashed at about 2.30pm this afternoon.

Police officers began the pursuit after two men were seen jumping over a garden fence and into a car after the police were called to a suspected burglary at a home in Firsdown Close in the High Salvington area of Worthing.

The car sped off with three men in it and was sighted by police on the A259, before it turned on to the Ford road towards Arundel before crashing into the barriers at around 2.25pm.

As the car smashed through the barrier, it collided with a number of other vehicles on the other side of the crossing including a police car with a woman and a police officer sustaining minor injuries in the collision.

Three men then got out of the car and fled with one man running along the railway tracks causing trains to be stopped in the area.

Officers managed to track down all three suspects within ten minutes and the trio were arrested and taken into police custody.

The road remained closed more than an hour after the incident.

A Southern Rail spokesman said trains are now running again but passengers are being warned to expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

The line was closed in response to the incident and Network Rail staff have begun making repairs to the barriers.

Did you see what happened? Then call 01273 544530 or neil.vowles@theargus.co.uk.