A MAN is in hospital with serious injuries after his car left the road and smashed through railings and traffic lights.

The silver Volkswagen Golf narrowly missed passers-by and knocked down lamp posts, metal railings and traffic lights in High Street, Shoreham - just yards from the River Adur.

Firefighters from Shoreham and Lancing cut free the driver, believed to be in his mid 20s, after the crash at about 10.35pm on Saturday.

He was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital with injuries described as serious but not life threatening.

Police closed the road for more than three hours and the Highways Agency were called to fix the street furniture.

Mike Chapman, landlord of the nearby Ferry Inn, said: "I heard an almighty noise and realised there had been a bad crash outside.

"When I got outside there must have been 50 people there already, and most of them were on mobile phones calling for help.

"The car had just demolished one side of the street, it even knocked the traffic lights down."

Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0845 6070999.

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