AN elderly Newport couple were injured in an accident in Eastbourne with a police patrol car responding to a 999 call.

Police said the couple, who have not been named, were using a pedestrian crossing near Eastbourne pier, when they were struck by the patrol car just after 10pm on Friday.

The man suffered severe injuries in the accident and is in a serious condition in hospital.

His wife was slightly hurt and has been released from hospital. The two officers in the patrol car, which had been travelling with its blue lights flashing and siren on, were uninjured.

An investigation has been launched by Sussex police. The couple are understood to have been to be staying at the town's Burlington Hotel and had been due to travel back home yesterday.

It is understood family members have travelled to Eastbourne District General Hospital to visit the injured man.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Officers from Sussex Police road policing department are investigating the cause of the accident, which was immediately reported to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."