Two young men were killed when their car crashed on an East Sussex country road last night.

The Ford Fiesta was in collision with a Renault Espace on the A2100 at Battle Hill, south of Battle, at 10pm.

One of the men, both aged 20, was thrown clear of the car into a hedge, while the other was cut free from the vehicle by firefighters.

Residents from nearby houses rushed to held the injured and gave emergency first aid at the scene before a fleet of ambulances arrived.

Paramedics fought to save the men - who were from Battle and Hastings - but they died at the scene.

Station Officer Dave Yeates, based at Battle fire station, was the officer in charge at the incident.

He said: "When we arrived it was apparent two of the people involved were very seriously injured and the paramedics were working on them.

"We assisted with the lighting for them and one of the men had been thrown over a hedge so we cut that away so paramedics could get to him.

"Once we had done that we helped police in their accident investigation until they had finished then we helped recover the bodies."

Mr Yeates said the 12 firefighters had not left the scene until 2am while they helped clear away scattered debris.

Crews were debriefed back at the fire station before they left.

The accident closed the main A2100 between Battle and Hastings until early this morning. Police set up diversions, only allowing people who lived close by to travel past.

Accident investigators spent several hours at the scene.

Details of the two men are expected to be released next week.

The driver of the Espace, a 52-year-old man from St Leonards, received minor injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Bexhill road policing unit on 0845 6070999, ext 64303.