The leader of a campaign to save a hospital from closure will today meet with health bosses for the first time.

Eastbourne parliamentary candidate Chris Berry launched a campaign to save All Saints Hospital after plans were announced to close it by Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust.

Chief Executive Alan Randall slammed the action as "misguided" and said it could provea hindrance to local services.

Mr Berry has since agreed to an invitation to meet Mr Randall and the pair were due to meet at Eastbourne District General Hospital today.

All Saints, which stands on Eastbourne seafront, is seen as unfit by health chiefs.

A modern alternative in care is being planned to improve services in the area and make them more accessible.

The plans have outraged Eastbourne's Liberal Democrats, who launched a campaign to save All Saints, which caters for mainly elderly patients in short-term care.

They say the move would be detrimental to health care in the Eastbourne area and have called for the hospital to stay open.

The closure has also attracted criticism from the Eastbourne, Seaford and Wealden Community Health Council (CHC) which is overlooking the plans which are set to go to public consultation after being submitted to East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority.

Should it object to the final proposals, the matter will be referred to the Secretary of State.