Campaigners fighting for a speed reduction on a road were told it was safe just hours before a smash involving a private ambulance.

They received a reply from East Sussex County Council yesterday morning saying the road did not justify a speed drop.

But within a couple of hours a private ambulance and a van collided on the same road outside the Copper Beech House Nursing Centre, Uckfield.

The 40mph Eastbourne Road in Uckfield has been condemned as dangerous by centre bosses following several near-crashes.

They say the smash at mid-morning yesterday has reinforced the need for a reduction in the 40mph limit to 30mph.

The accident happened after a W-registered Volkswagen private ambulance pulled out from the nursing centre.

The G-reg Vauxhall van travelling south then crashed into the private ambulance's off-side, leaving both vehicles badly damaged.

No elderly people were in the private ambulance during the crash, which caused a one-lane closure as police carried out inquiries.

Its two-man crew received minor injuries, as did the lone van driver, employed by Paynes heating and plumbing at the Bellbrook Business Park, Uckfield.

Bosses at the 48-bed nursing centre first wrote to highways bosses last October saying the road was dangerous and needed a speed reduction.

Following the crash, they have now written again to press them for a reduction and have highlighted the latest smash.

They say a blind bend on the road can be deceptive. And they say they want to protect their staff and pensioners from road accidents.

Manager Pat High said: "This accident has reinforced the need for a reduction in the speed limit on this dangerous stretch, which we've been fighting for some time.

"I hope that in light of this accident the council will now agree that the speed limit should be reduced to 30mph."

Concerned relatives of pensioners also plan to lobby the council, saying drivers often flout the 40mph limit on the narrow, fast stretch.

A county council spokesman said today the Eastbourne Road does not meet its criteria for a reduction to 30mph.

However, they vowed to look again at their request when they receive their latest letter from the nursing centre.

The spokesman said: "There was a specific request from the nursing centre to reduce the 40mph limit to 30mph.

"However, we found the road doesn't meet the criteria to do so. For one, there has to be a certain amount of development actually fronting the road.

"And the road has to be able to support a 30mph limit. If they are going to write to us, we will look again at their request.

"However, we do get a lot of letters asking for speed reductions from people across the county."