A winter beds crisis has been averted at Eastbourne's main hospital with a £750,000 Government cash injection.

Health chiefs had forecast the District General would run desperately short of space for emergency patients at Christmas because of "bed-blocking."

A month ago it was still caring for 33 patients who no longer needed hospital treatment but who could not be discharged because social services could not afford to care for them.

But a £95,000 lifeline from the Government has allowed it to open up the Holywell ward at Eastbourne's All Saints Hospital and transfer patients there.

Just 11 beds now remain "blocked" at the District General.

A further £650,000 has been provided for East Sussex social services to fund nursing home places for elderly patients.

The mild weather and the increase in flu vaccinations have also helped keep admissions below predictions.

Alan Randall, chief executive of Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "We were terrified by the number of blocked beds we had. But if the numbers continue to fall this dramatically we'll be in a much stronger position to cope."

The hospital trust says it is also likely to meet Government waiting list targets.