A MOTORCYCLIST injured in a crash was spotted by fire crews as they raced to tackle an enormous blaze.

The rider was hurt in a collision with a van in Upper Brighton Road, Sompting, at about 2.45pm.

He was seen by fire crews on the way to a major blaze at an industrial site in Lancing, with the crash happening little more than a mile away from the site of the inferno.

As other units continued to the blaze, one team stopped and administered first aid to the rider.

The casualty was then passed into the hands of ambulance and air ambulance crews, who quickly arrived at the scene.

A West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "While making their way to the fire in Lancing, officers from our Technical Rescue Unit came across a road traffic collision involving a motorcyclist and a van at about 2.45pm on the A27 near Sompting.

The Argus:

"The officers administered first aid to the rider of the motorcycle and he was left in the care of paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service."

An ambulance service spokesman said: "We were called at approximately 2.45pm today to reports of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle in Upper Brighton Road, Sompting.

"Ambulance crews attended the scene and were joined for a short while by the air ambulance service.

"The motorcyclist was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to Worthing Hospital for further treatment."