An Argus campaign to save accident and emergency facilities has led to one of the biggest postbags in years.

Hundreds of petitions have flooded into our offices protesting at proposals which could see services at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath downgraded.

Health chiefs are consulting the public about ways to reorganise hospital services in central Sussex as part of moves to centralise care to keep medical specialties up to date.

As part of the moves, emergency surgery cases, including serious road accident victims, could be moved away from Haywards Heath down to the busy Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton.

Avril Malins, from Westdene, Brighton, is one of many residents who have taken to the streets to ask their friends and neighbours to sign our petition.

Mrs Malins, 61, said: "I am just an ordinary person but I have met so many like me who feel the same way as I do.

"I have three elderly relatives who have been taken to accident and emergency at the Royal Sussex and all three have had to wait for hours on trolleys. How, then, they expect to take more people from Haywards Heath, we just do not know.

"All you have to do is look at the traffic when it is backed up along London Road to see how hard it would be for an ambulance to get through.

"I feel very strongly about this. All the lights and sirens in the world won't make any difference if the traffic is simply blocking the road.

"It is wonderful to see so much support for this campaign and I am just very glad The Argus is running it."

Several high-profile names have backed the campaign including former Forces' Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, who lives in Ditchling, and Hurstpierpoint-based actress Judy Parfitt, who has enjoyed recent fame through the hit television drama ER.

People fear the extra distance, with ambulances weaving through thick traffic, could cost lives.