A staff transport scheme offering free bus links between Brighton's main hospitals has been hailed a success.

There have been more than 8,000 journeys between the Royal Sussex and Brighton General Hospital since the pilot project was launched.

A further 1,200 workers have used the 7/7A bus route between the Royal Sussex in Eastern Road and Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Dyke Road, which they can travel on for free.

The project could now be extended to provide links between Brighton hospitals and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Bosses at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust are also considering making the services available for a longer period each day.

A trust spokesman said: "This has obviously cut down on the number of cars coming to and from the sites and reduced the frustration of staff trying to park."

Car parking spaces at the Royal Sussex are at a premium because 100 spaces have been lost for at least 18 months while a specialist kidney centre is built.

Forty more have been permanently lost at the nearby Sussex Eye Hospital to make way for an education centre.