People in Brighton and Hove are overwhelming in wanting the breast cancer treatment service to stay in the city.

More than 19,000 have signed petitions organised by The Argus and Friends of the Nigel Porter Unit.

Most of them are from the Brighton area but there are many from other parts of Sussex and one from as far away as Chicago.

Today is the last day for people to protest against the ludicrous proposal for thousands of women to go all the way from Brighton and Hove to Haywards Heath for treatment.

Heath officials must take account of the huge weight of public opinion against this move.

The Nigel Porter Unit is not housed in an ideal centre at the moment and needs much more room. Everyone accepts that.

If this cannot be found on the current site at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Eastern Road, there are other sites in the Brighton and Hove area that could be considered.

They include the Hove Polyclinic site in Nevill Avenue and Southlands Hospital in Shoreham, Both of these sites are within the Brighton area. They are much easier for patients and their relatives to reach than the Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath.

The wishes of Brighton and Hove people are clear. They want this unit to stay in the city. It's time health bosses realised this and did something about it.