Three generations of one family were involved in a head-on crash with a lorry which left one woman fighting for life.

The 55-year-old grandmother suffered serious chest injuries and was last night in an intensive care ward.

Her 35-year-old daughter suffered a broken arm and other fractures but her three-year-old daughter escaped unhurt.

The Rover car they were in was involved in a collision with a lorry on the A29 at Hardham, near Pulborough, shortly before 9am yesterday.

Passers-by helped the injured before firefighters arrived to cut them free. The three were taken by ambulance to St Richard's Hospital, Chichester.

The lorry driver suffered shock but was otherwise unhurt after the accident, at 8.50am.

Assistant Divisional Officer Ray Jackson, of West Sussex Fire Service, said the doors and roof of the car had to be removed to release the occupants.

He said: "The bonnet and front of the car had been crushed. The weather conditions were atrocious."

Firefighters spent 90 minutes cutting away the seats and steering wheel to free the driver.