The campaign to keep breast cancer services in Brighton has been given a major boost.

Health bosses could rethink proposals to move breast cancer care services from Brighton to Haywards Heath.

The move follows a campaign led by The Argus to keep the Nigel Porter Unit in Brighton.

A review of hospital services has recommended moving the unit from the Royal Sussex County Hospital to the Princess Royal.

More than 40,000 people signed protest petitions organised by The Argus and the Friends of the Nigel Porter unit.

Now a report to a joint board meeting of West Sussex Health Authority and East Sussex Brighton and Hove Health Authority on Friday is putting forward an alternative option.

This would involve looking again at the Royal Sussex to see if a location could be found for the centre there.

Potential problems with public transport and access would also be looked at again.

East Sussex chief executive Alan Bedford said the new option was a direct result of the campaign.

He said: "This option is in response to the large public interest to the breast care issue.

"The idea of reviewing the option is to see if there is any way the service can be kept in Brighton.

"If it turns out that it can't, then we hope we will be able to get the message across to people the reason for the move."

If the boards agreed to look at the issue again, a citizens' panel would be set up a report would be made at a meeting next March.

An independent architect has been looking again at the Royal Sussex site and will make a verbal report to the board.

Other proposals, including merging Brighton Health Care NHS Trust and Mid Sussex NHS Trust, are expected to go ahead.