A woman suffered serious injuries when she was hit by a bus as she crossed a busy bus lane.

The woman, in her 40s, was thrown into the air during the collision with the No 37 bus opposite St Peter's Church, Brighton, on a pedestrian crossing Shoppers rushed to her aid after the accident, which happened at 12.15pm yesterday.

No one was injured on the bus, which skidded to a halt and was left with a smashed windscreen.

The woman, who was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, was last night said to be in a very serious condition.

The accident has prompted renewed calls over the safety of Brighton and Hove's bus routes.

In the past two years two people have been killed and more than 20 injured in accidents in bus lanes between Castle Square, Brighton, and St Peter's Church, York Place.

Yesterday's accident involved a bus travelling northbound with the flow of the traffic.

Paul Williams, operations manager of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, said: "It happened on a pedestrian crossing and our information is that she crossed against the green man light and the bus had priority at the time.

"We have been having ongoing discussions with the council about improving safety in our bus lanes as there are concerns about pedestrians being injured."

Large signs warning about the bus lanes and have been erected, some of them warning pedestrians to look both ways as buses go against the flow of the traffic. Barriers have also been put up to discourage pedestrians crossing at certain points.

Local councillor Keith Taylor, said: "It is confusing for pedestrians at some points where they cross bus lanes in Brighton and Hove. If accidents like this are still happening, we have got to find a solution, even if that solution means closing a bus lane.

"One accident is one accident too many."