A driver was taken to hospital with spinal injuries after his car somersaulted on a busy Mid Sussex dual carriageway early today.

The Peugeot 104 flipped over on the southbound A23 near Hickstead, opposite the showjumping ground.

Firefighters from Keymer and Hurstpierpoint and a heavy rescue tender from Crawley attended the crash at 6.15am.

Sub Officer Trevor Davey, commander of Keymer fire station, said: "The car was the right way up but judging from the damage it had rolled.

"The driver was complaining of neck and back pain so we had to be very cautious.

"We cut the roof of the car off but in the end paramedics were happy to take him out through the door.

"He was put on a hard stretcher, which immobilises the head and neck, and taken to hospital."