A POLICE officer has been injured by a driver leaving an illegal rave after he crashed into police.

The air ambulance attended the collision in Bostal Road which is partially blocked both ways between Newham Lane and Clays Hill.

The road had been closed this morning while officers from Sussex Police shut down an illegal rave in the area.

Images taken from the scene show the wrecked police car stationary on the road with its airbags deployed. 

The second car appears to have had its roof cut off by fire crews attending the scene. 

According to an AA traffic report, roads surrounding the area remain closed.

A spokesman said: "There is partially blocked and slow traffic due to an accident on Bostal Road both ways between Newham Lane and Clays Hill.

"There are earlier reports that police have closed some surrounding rounds heading into Steyning."

A spokesman from Sussex Police said: "A significant number of people have travelled to the site from areas outside of Sussex, and enquiries are ongoing to identify the organisers responsible for this unauthorised event so enforcement action can be taken against them.

"Officers remain at the scene and will continue to robustly deal with people found to be committing crime and behaving in an anti-social manner.

"Those leaving the event are being proactively stopped to ensure drivers are in a fit state to drive.

"There continues to be disruption on the road network in the area owing to a large number of badly parked vehicles, and people are still urged to avoid the area if possible."