Witnesses to a horror smash on the A26 are being urged to come forward.

The crash which happened at Heron's Ghyll between Uckfield and Crowborough shut the road for seven hours last night.

A silver VW Golf travelling north was in a head-on collision with a red Nissan Note travelling south, which was also struck by a following black Vauxhall Corsa.

The drivers of the VW and the Vauxhall, a 33-year-old man from Royal Tunbridge Wells, and a 63-year-old man from High Hurstwood, Uckfield, respectively, each sustained whiplash injuries.

Both received hospital treatment but were not detained.

The driver of the Nissan, a 70-year-old woman from Rotherfield, near Crowborough, was given first aid by police officers until paramedics arrived.

She was trapped in her vehicle and had to be released by firefighters.

She was flown by the Kent, Surrey and Sussex air ambulance to St George's Hospital in London, where she has been detained with spinal injuries.

She is currently in a critical but stable condition.

The collision occurred at 3.35pm and while the A26 was closed traffic was diverted via the B2026 through Duddleswell.

Sergeant Peter Verney, of the Haywards Heath road policing unit, said: " We thank drivers for their patience and understanding while the road was shut.

"Unfortunately, this was a serious incident and we would like to hear from anyone who saw what happened or who noticed any of the vehicles being driven shortly before the collision occurred."

Anyone with information is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or phone 101, quoting Operation Franklin.