A man has died and two people are in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a crash involving a sewage tanker and a car, police said.

The crash happened just before 07:00 BST on Tuesday on the A267 at Cross in Hand, near Heathfield, and the road was shut until about 07:00 the following day.

Sussex Police have now confirmed that a 32-year-old man who was driving the car – a Ford Focus – died at the scene.

They also said the passengers were all injured, including a 24-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man, who were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, while a man, 22, was seriously hurt.

The lorry driver had minor injuries, police said.

The four people in the Ford Focus were from east London.

Heathfield and Waldron Parish Council chairman Gill Snook said the car involved was “so badly mangled” that it was “completely unrecognisable”.

The crash is under investigation and officers are urging anyone with information to get in contact.