Personal alarms are being offered to staff at a hospital to ward off aggressive patients and visitors.

The alarms, which are attached to a belt, have already been given to accident and emergency staff at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Now they are being offered to staff in all departments.

The alarms emit a piercing sound, audible at more than 400 yards.

They are one of a number of measures being introduced at the hospital to protect staff. Other measures include swipe-card locks on doors.

Security adviser John Harmer said the hospital had the lowest recorded crime rate among hospitals in the South-East, with 285 incidents for the year ending October 31.

They included verbal threats, physical aggression and racial and sexual harassment.

Almost a third of the incidents happened in the accident and emergency department.

But close behind were geriatric patients, who sometimes unwittingly lashed out when confused.

A study has shown trouble is most likely to break out on a Wednesday night.

Ex-policeman Mr Harmer said: "We are channelling our energies into protecting against crime because we don't want to have to deal with it in the first place.

"It's not a big problem here but we want to make sure all staff feel safe."

Acting hospital chief executive Glenn Douglas said: "We fully support staff who are subjected to any threats and will make sure appropriate action is taken against the offenders."