A 12-year-old girl was seriously injured in a three-car crash which also injured two other children.

She was one of five people in a blue Toyota Auris which collided with a red Renault Megane Scenic, which left the A27 by Selmeston and caught fire just after 9.20pm on Tuesday.

The youngster was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with a broken leg and fractured pelvis,

A 10-year-old girl in the same vehicle sustained a broken thumb.

A 32-year-old woman in the Auris suffered abdominal and leg injuries and was trapped in the vehicle for 90 minutes before she could be freed by firefighters.

Two people were pulled to safety from the Renault by other drivers.

A silver Vauxhall Astra was also involved in the crash.

The road was closed for more than six hours while emergency services including an air ambulance were called to the scene between Lewes and Polegate.

Police investigating the incident want to speak to the driver or passengers of a light-coloured hatchback that may have been involved in a hit and run with the Renault at the nearby Common Lane crossroads just before the accident.

Any witnesses should call police on 101 or email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Stormfly.