A 20-year-old student died in a car crash on a country road.

The woman, whose identity has not yet been released, was on her way to get some lunch with two friends when the car they were travelling in left the road.

She was sitting in the back seat of a Citroen Saxo driving east between Plumpton and Offham, near Lewes, on the B2116.

The car turned onto its side and skidded along a grass verge before hitting a tree.

The woman, who lived in Brighton, died at the scene of the crash.

Police were still trying to contact her relatives tonight.

All three people in the car were students at Plumpton College, near Lewes.

Sergeant Bryan McCartney, of Sussex Police, said: "It was a group of friends going to Tesco in Lewes for some lunch."

No other cars are thought to have been involved in the accident, which happened just after a bend in the road.

The 20-year-old man driving was arrested and released on police bail.

Police are investigating whether to prosecute him for careless or dangerous driving.

They have ruled out drink or drugs as a cause of the crash.

The driver and another woman passenger, also aged 20, were treated for minor injuries at Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The accident happened at 12.55pm yesterday.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the car on the road or anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them on 0845 6070999, quoting Operation Marton.