Six people this morning continue to fight for their lives following a head on collision in East Sussex.

Emergency services were called to Holtye Hill on the A264, near the White Horse Inn at Holtye, outside the entrance to Sweetwoods Park golf club, at 11.40am yesterday after reports of two cars, a black Saab and a silver/blue Vauxhall Zafira saloon, having collided whilst travelling in opposite directions.

Seven people were trapped in the two vehicles and were released by East Sussex Fire and Rescue.

Police and Ambulance helicopters also went to the scene.

The 67-year old man from Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire who had been driving the Saab, and the front seat passenger, a 71-year old Potters Bar man, were taken by police helicopter to the Royal Sussex County Hospital with serious injuries.

The two women who were rear seat passengers in the Saab, a 64-year old from Potters Bar and a 67-year old from Waltham Cross, were taken to Kent and Sussex County Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Zafira, a 49-year old Tunbridge Wells man, was taken by air ambulance to King’s College Hospital in London with serious injuries.

Two Tunbridge Wells women, aged 76 and 84, who were passengers in the Zafira were taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital, both with serious injuries.

A Sussex Police spokesman said; “The road was closed for several hours whilst we investigated the cause of the crash and highways workers cleared the road.”

Sergeant Bryan McCartney said; “We were grateful for the patience and understanding of drivers who were diverted because of the road closures for this very serious incident, and we also ask anyone who saw what happened to contact us via 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Radley.”