A 22-year-old man who went missing from a hospital ward could lose the sight of an eye if he does not receive urgent treatment.

Andrew Linton had stuck a staple into his eye while he was detained under the Mental Health Act at Horsham Hospital.

He was treated at Crawley Hospital on Easter Sunday but the staple was not removed. He was returned to Horsham Hospital but vanished a few hours later.

Inspector Lisa Pearcey said: "We are very concerned for his health, safety and welfare. He is in need of urgent medical treatment. Without it he could cause himself permanent damage."

He left Horsham Hospital with his arm in a plaster cast and a patch over his badly-swollen eye.

Ms Pearcey said an appeal in The Argus for help to trace Mr Linton had led to a possible sighting outside Brighton station.

"We are appealing to anyone who saw this man at the railway station to get in touch and also anyone who runs hostels or charity organisations, who may have seen him," she said.

Mr Linton walks with a shuffling gait. He is 5ft 6in with a scar across the back of his head. He has dark brown cropped hair and a wispy beard.

When he disappeared he was wearing a black and white Newcastle United football shirt under a blue crew-neck jumper, grey cords and grey trainers.

The man at the station wore cut-off trousers.

Anyone with information should call Ms Pearcey on 0845 6070999.