A man died early today after being pulled from a car which caught fire after it smashed into a lamp post.

The man and two companions, all thought to be in their late teens or early 20s, were in a Peugeot 205 which crashed at the Offington Corner junction of the A27 and A24 in Worthing at 1.20am.

He died at the scene of the accident and the others were being treated today at Worthing Hospital for burns.

Eyewitnesses said at least one of the men was thrown from the vehicle.

A passing doctor is thought to have pulled the dead man from the car as flames began to take hold.

Firefighters from Worthing hosed the car down and administered first aid to the men.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue spokesman Gary Towson said: "The lamp post appeared to have hit the passenger door.

"All I know is that they were all out when we got there.

"One was fatal, one had serious injuries and burns, and one had burnt hands."

The identities of the men have not been released.