AN ELDERLY pedestrian has died after being hit by a lorry.

The air ambulance was called to the A26 New Road near Newhaven following the crash.

But the woman, who was in her 70s, died at the scene.

This afternoon, Sussex Police issued a statement on the collision.

The Argus:

A spokeswoman said: "Emergency services attended reports of a collision in Avis Road, Newhaven, involving a lorry and a pedestrian at 12.04pm today.

"The pedestrian - a woman in her 70s - was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Traffic is disrupted in the Avis Road area and drivers are recommended to avoid the area at the current time."

The Argus:

An AA spokesman warned drivers that the road was blocked as a result of the collision and there was slow traffic in the surround area.

He also confirmed the air ambulance had attended the scene and said that buses were being diverted to avoid the scene of the crash.

A Brighton and Hove Buses spokesman said: “With apologies, due to an accident at Paradise Park all our 12A services are diverting via Avis way and are not able to serve Paradise Park in Both directions.”

But the diversion was then blocked by a broken down lorry.

The spokesman said: “Due to a broken down lorry we are now not able to use Avis way and are instead using the retail park and the Sainsbury’s to Denton corner in both directions.”

At 2pm, traffic was reported to be moving slowly around the incident with delays remaining in the area.