Brighton and Hove Tories are opposing plans to transfer breast cancer services from the city to Haywards Heath.

The opposition group on Brighton and Hove City Council has written a letter of protest to West Sussex Health Authority.

Leader Brian Oxley praised the campaign run by The Argus to prevent the move from the Royal Sussex County Hospital to the Princess Royal Hospital.

He said the Princess Royal was not very accessible and the service would become fragmented between the two sites.

Coun Oxley said: "It will particularly disadvantage those without access to private transport, the elderly and those on low incomes.

"It is vital to keep all the breast care services within the boundaries of Brighton and Hove, the largest centre of population.

"Breast cancer touches the lives of so many and I have personally lost two aunts and a grandmother to the disease."

He said the overwhelming response by local people, including petitions signed by 28,000, should be taken into account by the health authority.

The city council will discuss the move today.