A series of crashes in roadworks brought traffic on the A27 to a standstill yesterday.

A woman had to be cut from the wreckage of one car on the busy dual carriageway at Sompting, near Worthing.

Medics and firefighters lifted her on to a spinal board before taking her to Worthing Hospital.

She was a back seat passenger in a Fiat Uno, which was sandwiched between two other cars involved in the incident on the eastbound carriageway.

As emergency services were still trying to clear the road, a Mercedes and a Saab were involved in what was the fourth crash of the afternoon on the stretch of road between Sompting Lane and Busticle Lane.

Police, paramedics, fire officers and construction workers involved with the roadworks rushed to help.

The Saab driver appeared uninjured but the occupants of the Mercedes, including a young child, were advised not to move until ambulances arrived.

Police decided to close both carriageways and traffic was diverted through Sompting.

Sub-officer Pete Tooth, of Worthing Fire Station, said: "The first crash happened just west of Sompting Lane at about 2.30pm and involved two vehicles.

"The second happened shortly afterwards on the other carriageway and appears to have been caused by people trying to see what had happened.

"The most serious was the incident involving the Fiat Uno. Shortly after, the fourth crash happened just a few yards from us."

The roadworks on the A27 Sompting bypass are finally over. Contractors finished the improvements, which have caused long delays all winter, last night.