FOUR people were taken to hospital after a crash involving a bus and a car.

Avis Road, near the junction with Avis Way and Denton Road, in Newhaven, was closed for three hours after the accident at 4.15pm yesterday.

Eyewitnesses said a 12A Brighton and Hove bus was involved but this was not confirmed by the emergency services last night.

Passersby who saw the aftermath of the crash said the front of the bus was damaged and its windscreen shattered. The car was in a ditch and also badly damaged.

Police, fire and ambulance services were called to the scene and paramedics treated at least one man at the roadside.

The road re-opened just after 7pm and a police spokesman said Four people were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, three with serious injuries.

Two female bus passengers aged in their 70s complained of back pain, one with possible rib injuries. A driver aged in his 60s had a serious leg injury and the fourth person had minor injuries.

Four ambulances and three ambulance cars were sent out.