A young man and woman died yesterday afternoon in a van smash near Uckfield.

Police and ambulance crews were called at 4.51pm on Sunday to Eastbourne Road at Ridgewood, to a serious collision involving a white Peugeot Boxer van.

The two people in the vehicle, a 22-year-old mand and a 27-year-old woman, both from Uckfield, were declared dead at the scene.

Their families have been contacted and are being supported by officers.

The vehicle was travelling south and skid marks suggest it had crossed to the right hand side of the carriageway before veering back left and crashing into trees at the side of the road.

As of 9pm last night police were still at the scene and the road was closed in both directions. The road reopened at 11.50pm.

Sergeant Alan Spicer, of Sussex Police, said: "Sadly both the driver and his passenger died at the scene and the road was closed for a number of hours while emergency services were on scene.

"Anyone who saw what happened or may have seen the van prior to the collision or the collision itself is asked to contact police quoting Operation Eastern."

Anyone with information can contact police online sussex.police.uk/contact-us/response-to-appeal/ or email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk.