Eleven men were injured in a crash between a van and a minibus, two of them seriously.

Nine of the injured were in the minibus when it collided with a Mercedes box van near to a railway line.

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokeswoman said two of the eleven men had sustained very serious injuries in the accident which happened on the A2100 London Road at St John's Cross, near Battle, shortly before 6am yesterday.

The minibus was travelling south when it collided with the Mercedes van and then careered into a tree.

The nine men in the minibus needed hospital treatment.

Four were taken to the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards, where one of the casualties was last night said to be in a serious condition.

Two were taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital, one by the Kent Air Ambulance.

Three further casualties were taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells.

The two people in the van were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The road was closed for six hours while police investigated the accident.

South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedic officer Nigel Hammond said: "This was a difficult scene for our crews to manage due to the large number of patients involved and the area the incident was spread over. However, they coped extremely well.

"Although the incident was serious enough in itself, given the proximity to the railway line, it could have been far worse."

Police are appealing for witnesses and in particular to anyone who may have seen a white minibus on the A2100 just before the collision.

Call PC Dan Pitcher on 0845 6070999.