A woman has died after contracting Legionnaires' disease at a Sussex hospital.

The 79-year-old may have come into contact with the infection in showers in the hospital's psychiatric department and her death prompted screenings of staff, patients and visitors to the unit at the Eastbourne District General Hospital.

The woman, who has not been named, was admitted to Heathfield ward early last month and died in the first week of May.

A trust spokesman today said her death was an isolated incident. Water samples have shown positive results for legionella from two shower units.

The spokesman said: "We cannot confirm that they are definitely linked to the case but further tests are being carried out to clarify this. "