Police refused to immediately investigate a hit-and-run crash despite having two independent witnesses.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the incident would be dealt with on "slow time".

The case is the latest to emerge in a growing number of incidents deemed non-priority by the force.

Chief Constable Ken Jones has promised to reverse the controversial policy.

Hit-and-runs, drug abuse and road rage cases have all gone uninvestigated because they are not seen as priorities.

Alan Pilsworth's car was badly damaged when a car driven by a woman clipped it outside his home.

Two neighbours gave Mr Pilsworth, 38, of Gloucester Road, Burgess Hill, a description of the driver and her number plate.

Mr Pilsworth, a newspaper worker, said police officers refused to get involved when he reported the crime.

He said: "I went straight to the police - they told me to go to my insurance company.

"It wasn't so much the damage that upset my but the fact a crime had been committed and I was being brushed off.

"I am very unhappy. They just didn't seem to want to know."

The hit-and-run, last month, met with little official response from police.

When Mr Pilsworth returned to the station no attempt had been made to speak to either witness, neither had police visited the home of the alleged offender.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said an investigation was ongoing.

She said: "Collisions are frequent and it's only right accidents that don't cause injuries are dealt with in a 'slow time'.

Another spokesman said: "Slow time means it will be answered as per our priorities.

"We will get round there but we won't rush round if other things come up."