An investigation was under way today after a marked police van carrying eight officers was involved in a crash with a car.

Firefighters had to cut one policeman, believed to the driver, from the van following the accident at Lavant, near Chichester.

The man suffered a neck injury and was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester together with another male officer, who received minor injuries. The other officers were not hurt.

A man and a woman, both in their 70s, were travelling in a blue Ford Focus which collided with the van on the A286 Lavant Road at 1.44pm. Both suffered shock and were also taken to St Richard's.

Sussex Police spokesman David Ward said: "The initial indications seem to suggest that the accident was not as serious as first thought.

"Crash investigators from Sussex Police will be looking at the incident."

The Police Complaints Authority is yet to be involved in the inquiry, Mr Ward added.