A man suffered head injuries in a six-vehicle pile-up on the A27 which caused tailbacks stretching three miles during this morning's rush hour.

A van was smashed into several pieces in a collision with an articulated lorry loaded with Spanish floor tiles on the eastbound Shoreham bypass, between the Adur flyover and Holmbush.

At least four other vehicles were involved, some of which hit debris from the first crash.

One man, thought to have been in the Ford Transit van, was taken to Worthing Hospital. Rescuers said they were surprised there were no more serious injuries.

Graeme Woods, commanding fire crews at the scene, said: "Several people were hurt but no one was trapped. It was fortunate only one needed to be taken to hospital.

"Our main work was giving early first aid to casualties and clearing petrol and oil spills from the crashed vehicles."

The crash happened at 5.20am and eastbound traffic was delayed for more than three hours.

Traffic backed up for more than three miles to Sompting and motorists were diverted from the Adur flyover along the A283 and Old Shoreham Road.

The westbound carriageway was unaffected but traffic was slowed by motorists viewing the crash scene as they drove past.

One eastbound driver, en route to his office in Brighton, said: "Fortunately, I followed the diversion and wasn't held up more than a few minutes but crashes and resulting delays seem to be happening on the bypass more often than ever."

Sussex Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Among those held up in the crash was Mervyn Kitchen, due to umpire at Sussex's crucial cricket clash with Leicestershire at Hove.

With the county poised to take its first ever county championship, former Sussex batsman Les Lenham stepped in to replace Mr Kitchen as square-leg umpire until his arrival shortly after 11am.