999 UPDATE: Lorry and cars in Haywards Heath Road crash

The collision happened just after 6.50am when emergency services were called to Haywards Heath Road, just north of Stone Hall, Balcombe, between the village and Haywards Heath.

Sussex Police said two cars and a lorry collided. One person is reported to have been slightly injured, and the road was closed for more than two hours until about 9.15am.

An ambulance was in attendance as rush traffic was forced to turn round in both direction on the brow of the steep hill up from Balcombe Viaduct.

Traffic heading south went back through Balcombe and down the B2036 towards Brook Street and Cuckfield and across the Ouse valley via Hanlye Lane.

Long traffic jams were caused by volume of traffic trying to get back onto the Haywards Heath Road just south of Borde Hill.

Traffic heading north, including to the M23 Junction 10, was also turned back and forced to cut across in the reverse direction from Haywards Heath Road to Cuckfield via Hanlye Lane.

Hanlye Lane and Ardingly Road were both congested with long queues joining the B2036 in Cuckfield village itself. School traffic to Warden Park Academy and students trying to get to Central Sussex College suffered delays