A baby has been found abandoned in a plastic carrier bag in the chapel of a Sussex hospital.

The baby boy, just a couple of weeks old, was discovered by a member of staff hidden underneath the altar at The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton this week.

The child was hungry but otherwise unharmed and is being cared for in the children's ward at the hospital.

Sussex Police are trying to trace the baby's mother.

Staff nurse Raj Deepchand discovered the baby when he went to pray in the hospital chapel during his lunch hour.

He said: "I kept hearing the sound of a baby crying. At first I thought it must have been coming from another part of the hospital but it was too loud.

"I went up to the altar, which is covered by a white cloth. I pulled the cloth away and underneath the altar there was a plastic bag with a baby in it. He was completely covered apart from his head.

"I was very shaken by what happened. It was terrible to see the baby lying there and thinking what could have happened to him.

"The doctors said I was a lifesaver for finding him when I did. I want the mother to know he is safe."

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said the matter was being investigated.