A driver died when his car veered off the road, smashed through a brick wall and stopping inches from a family's front door.

Motorist Robert Giles, 23, was rushed to hospital following the accident in Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham.

Neighbours woken by the sound of the crash called emergency rescue teams at 1am on Saturday.

Fire crews cut Mr Giles from the wreckage of his car and paramedics rushed him to Worthing Hospital where he died.

It is believed he was driving back to his home at The Withypatch, a Romany camp in Old Shoreham Road, less than a mile from the crash scene.

A neighbour said: "There was this terrific crash. I looked out of the window and saw the car. I think it was lying on its side in the driveway.

"The fire engines and ambulance arrived and the car was towed away.

"Cars do go quite fast along this road, especially at night but we've never had anything like this before. It's just terrible."

A large chunk of the solid concrete wall lay in the centre of the drive on Saturday morning.

The neighbour said: "I spoke to the man who lives in the house earlier this morning.

"He was up all night, very shocked and distressed at what had happened."

A police investigation has been launched to establish why the car veered from the residential road at its junction with Buckingham Road.

A police spokesman said: "At this stage we have no idea why the car left the road. We're appealing for anyone who saw the car being driven before this crash to contact us."

Anyone with information can contact Shoreham traffic office on 0845 6070999.