More than 300 campaigners took to the streets at the weekend to put pressure on the Government for a new hospital in Mid Sussex.

Children, teenagers and pensioners joined the march for the Crawley Hospital Campaign, pictures of which will be sent to Health Secretary Alan Milburn to show the depth of feeling.

The event, which was organised by the Crawley Hospital Campaign and the Crawley Labour Party, followed the decision by the Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) board to reject proposals for a multi-million-pound hospital at nearby Pease Pottage.

The current Crawley Hospital does not offer major services and residents have to travel to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill. Residents want their own major hospital offering accident and emergency services, acute care and maternity wards.

The SHA decision has gone out to public consultation and campaigners have four months before the final decision is made by the Government.

Escorted by police, campaigners marched for 45 minutes through Crawley to the town centre on Saturday while blowing whistles and chanting.

Onlookers were encouraged to join in and to sign a petition and, as the marchers passed Crawley Hospital, Conservative Party members joined them.

Taking part was Crawley MP Laura Moffatt, who used to work at the current Crawley Hospital as a nurse.

She said: "We can't let up for a moment. The key issue for me is getting A&E and maternity services.

"Demonstrations like this are really helpful. I can take photos to the Secretary of State and say there is a strength of feeling."

The hospital proposals were rejected by the SHA on the grounds of funding despite a Government review, which concluded there was a need for a hospital at Pease Pottage.

Instead, the SHA board voted to turn East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, into the main hospital for north Sussex and south-east Surrey while developing some services at Crawley. Borough councillor Brenda Smith was involved with the review.

She said: "People travel from here to visit relatives. It is usually the young and the old and they are going to be 14 miles from their town with perhaps a partner too old to travel or without a car. It is the people who need the care who are going to be the most vulnerable."

In Queens Square, marchers gathered and campaigners, councillors, the mayor and MP spoke to the public while supporters signed letters to be sent to ministers.