Crews from Haywards Heath, Hurstpierpoint, and Crawley were called to the three-car accident near the junction with Foxhole Lane at 5.27pm on Monday evening.

The woman was in a taxi with two children, neither of whom was injured.

Haywards Heath watch manager Ian Walker said: "The woman had a suspected neck injury and because of that it was difficult for her to get out.

"Usually in this situation we would have to cut the top of the vehicle off but it was a high vehicle and we did not need to do that.

"It was very much a precaution. There is no point in taking risks if someone feels they have got a neck injury."

No-one was seriously hurt in the other two vehicles, although one man drove himself to hospital to check a back injury.

Police were able to keep traffic flowing on the A272 while the crash was dealt with.