A 23-year-old woman has been released under investigation following a high-speed motorway chase.

Three people including two police officers were injured when the pursuit up the M23 from Brighton to Gatwick ended in a five-car smash.

Sussex Police traffic officers followed a black Audi on Saturday morning after number plate cameras spotted the car.

The Audi was described as travelling at excessive speed.

Two police cars were wrecked in the crash and left stricken across the busy motorway. 

The 23-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

She was released under investigation on Sunday.

The Argus: The scene of the smash The scene of the smash

All three lanes of the M23 were closed for hours.

A driver who passed the crash scene on the opposite side of the M23 said: “You could clearly see the two wrecked police cars with more officers on the road trying to maintain the scene and stop traffic.

“Drivers on the other side from the smash were slowing down to have a look which made conditions going south more dangerous.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "​A 23-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, driving without a licence and driving without insurance, has been released under investigation, while enquiries continue."

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage is asked to email: collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial number 223 of 26/03.