The new Angmering bypass has chalked up its first car crash - less than 24 hours after its grand opening.

Two cars collided on the recently-completed £4 million bypass at 10am on Saturday.

West Sussex County councillor Tex Pemberton had cut a red ribbon for the road's ceremonial opening just 22 hours earlier.

The road, which villagers hope will prevent heavy traffic cutting through Angmering, was closed for more than an hour while fire crews from East Preston and Horsham attended the incident.

Two people, one of whom who was pregnant, were taken to Worthing Hospital after sustaining cuts and bruises.

For years, commercial vehicles have used Angmering village as a short cut between the A259 and the A27.

Most villagers were pleased to see the road completed four months ahead of schedule but thought it would be a while before they saw a significant reduction in the number of lorries thundering past their houses, sometimes at night.

Graeme Lusby, 42, assistant manager of the Londis store in the centre of the village, said motorists often broke the speed limit as they drove through the village and he could recall countless accidents.

He said: "Since the new bypass opened, we have noticed a difference in the amount of traffic but it is very early days. There has been less.

"We used to get a lot of lorries thundering through here doing well over 40mph, with no respect for any speed limits.

"Congestion has also been a problem.

"Instead of coming through the village, lorries would miss their turning and go down Arundel Road. That junction is quite difficult and they would hold up traffic.

"The county council have been talking about a bypass for years. How it will effect the village, we will have to wait and see.

"Once a month, we used to have a minor accident due to the sheer volume of traffic."

Resident Kevin Simmons, 46, said speed bumps would have to be introduced before the majority of motorists steered clear of the village.