Morning commuters are facing delays on one of the county's busiest stretches after a crash involving a transit van and a moving crane.

The M23 was closed in both directions between Crawley and Pease Pottage for the air ambulance to land after both drivers sustained injuries.

The incident happened at about 7.10am on the northbound slip road at Maidenbower where the A23 joins the M23 at junction 10A.

Both carriageways have been re-opened, but one lane northbound remains closed.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Sussex Police are asking drivers to avoid that area, follow diversions, or allow extra time if possible for the time being.

"An air ambulance, which landed on the southbound carriageway, took the driver of the van, a 50-year old man, to St Georges Hospital in South London, and a land ambulance took his male passenger to the East Surrey Hospital at Redhill.

"Assessments have yet to be received from the hospitals but their conditions were not assessed as life threatening at the scene.
 
"The driver of the crane is not believed to be seriously hurt.
 
"The southbound carriageway, and lanes 2 and 3 of the northbound carriageway, were open again by 8.20am."

Tailbacks northbound stretched back to  Handcross Hill and northbound up to Gatwick at junction nine of the motorway. 

There were also further implications on the smaller road with huge queues through Pound Hill and Balcombe Road with commuters leaving the A23 looking for alternative routes.