Hospital staff are raising money to help provide midwifery care for women and newborns in developing countries.

The midwifery team at Worthing Hospital is joining forces with the Royal College of Midwives across the country in selling commemorative credit card shaped torches during national Midwifery Week.

The week runs from April 30 to May 5.

The Royal College aims to raise £20,000 to pay for safe motherhood initiatives in countries as diverse as Afghanistan and Macedonia to improve the availability of expert midwifery care for all.

Worthing midwifery team leader Penny Eaton said: "Midwives play a vital role in caring for new mothers at Worthing Hospital and we want to extend that role by raising money to help provide midwifery care to women living in poor and isolated countries.

"We are delighted to be participating in the week's celebrations and hope the public will support us in our fund-raising activities."