POLICE are hunting a motorcyclist and passenger who ran away after crashing into a car.

The crash happened in Saltdean at the junction between Marine Drive and Cranleigh Avenue causing severe delays on the A259.

But, the motorcyclist and has run away from the scene and is being searched for by police.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "There was a crash between a car and a motorcycle reported at 3.41pm.

"The National Police Air Service police helicopter currently assisting officers in a search of the motorcycle rider and passenger, who made off from the scene on foot." 

The crash partially blocked the road.

The AA website said the crash was first reported at 3.57pm and is causing queuing traffic on the A259 along the seafront to the west of Saltdean.

It said to expect severe delays of 13 minutes with an average speed of five miles per hour.

The website later added that traffic stretched back through Rottingdean to Brighton Marina, with delays of nine minutes expected here.

The two vehicles were recovered from the road at 5.10pm.

One commuter said: "If you are heading east like I am, as soon as you get to the marina you are in very slow moving traffic.

"It's hardly moving near the Blind Veterans' centre and I have seen several emergency vehicles heading past.

"The traffic heading west however appears to be flowing quite freely."

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