A pensioner whose operation was cancelled four times has finally had surgery.

Brian Budd grew increasingly frustrated at being told his routine hernia operation was postponed because no bed was available.

A week after we ran Mr Budd's story last month, his operation went ahead at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Mr Budd, 66, from Portslade, said: "I got a letter saying the operation had been rescheduled. I phoned up to check on the day that a bed was available and although I had to wait for a bit I was able to go in.

"The operation was fine and I am so glad it is all over. It is a real relief. The stress of it all was getting to me and I was starting to wonder if it would ever get done."

Staff at the Royal Sussex are working to beat problems with bed-blocking and a high number of emergency cases.