A man killed in a motorbike crash was identified today as a driver for outgoing Sussex police chief Paul Whitehouse.

Roy Townshend was riding a Kawasaki bike when it was involved in a collision with a BMW 520 and Volkswagen Golf.

Crash experts are investigating the cause of the accident on the A275 at Chailey, near Lewes, on Wednesday.

Mr Townshend, who was in his 50s, was a Sussex traffic constable for 30 years before becoming a civilian driver for the force command team.

He lived in Haywards Heath and his daughter is a civilian worker at force headquarters in Lewes.

A force spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Roy's family. He was held in high regard by everyone who knew him."

Press Officer Chris Oswick said: "He was a cheerful character and genuinely well liked by everyone on the command team. His death was a great shock and a tragic loss."