A WOMAN was critically injured after three cars crashed on a main road.

The accident happened at 6.51pm last Friday on the A264 Dorking Road about 800m east of the Great Daux roundabout in Horsham and its junction with the A24.

A purple Ford Fiesta and a black Audi TT travelling west collided. The Fiesta then smashed into a white Fiat 500 travelling eastbound.

The passenger in the Fiesta, a 21-year-old woman from Horsham, was critically injured. She was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance.

The Fiesta's driver, a man aged 24, suffered slight injuries, as did the Audi driver, a man aged 34, and the Fiat driver, a man aged 60. A passenger in the Fiat, a 55-year-old woman, was also left with slight injuries. All four came from addresses in Horsham and were treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Sergeant Alan Spicer said: "We'd like to hear from anyone who saw what happened or noticed any of the cars prior to the crash.

"In particular we're keen to trace the driver of a red car travelling west towards Great Daux roundabout who could be an important witness."

The A264 was closed to traffic until 2.45am while emergency services dealt with the incident.

Anyone with information should email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting Operation Beckton.