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A 17-year-old Bexhill driver was lucky to escape with her life when her Nissan Micra drifted on to the wrong side of the road and into the path of an oncoming 44 ton lorry.

She and two 17-year-old passengers needed treatment at Eastbourne's District General Hospital but Bexhill Police said: "It could have been a million times worse."

Police say the young driver was travelling on the Marsh Road from Bexhill towards Eastbourne at about 9.45am on Wednesday when the car began moving across to the opposite carriageway.

PC Chris Storey said: "A 44-ton HGV was coming the other way. The driver saw the Micra driver was on the wrong side of the road and thought it would move away ... but it didn't, so he left the road more or less and then they just clipped."

The car struck the side of the lorry and rebounded onto its own side of the road, ending up in the trees. It's thought the driver has suffered at least a broken collarbone, with the front seat and rear seat passengers receiving minor injuries.

PC Storey said: "If the lorry driver hadn't moved away, it would have flattened the Micra completely - and you would be looking at three deaths."

Witnesses are asked to contact PC Storey on 0845 60 70 999.