A doctor's surgery is contacting parents after it was revealed scores of babies may have wrongly been given two vaccinations in a single injection.

Children are being offered catch-up jabs and parents are being urged to ring Elm Grove surgery in Elm Grove, Brighton, for advice.

About 100 babies could have been affected by the mistake, which was uncovered by a health visitor last year.

A parent told the health visitor her GP had given her baby one injection combining diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus and meningitis C.

Babies are normally given two separate injections - one for meningitis C and a second which combines the other vaccinations, known as Pediacel.

Dr Tom Scanlon, the Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust's (PCT)

acting director of public health, said little was known about the effect of combining the vaccinations.

A helpline was set up for two days last week and letters were sent to parents whose children may be affected.

A review carried out by the PCT with the Health Protection Agency also revealed some babies had fallen behind in their injections.

Dr Scanlon said: "There is potential for reduced immunity from both vaccines and we have been advised the children involved should be recalled and offered catch-up vaccinations or additional vaccinations.

"We would like all parents or guardians who receive a letter to ring the number given to discuss their child's vaccination with our staff.

"I would like to apologise on behalf of the practice and the PCT. It is impossible to be sure of the level of reduced immunity that might have occurred. Giving additional vaccinations will provide the necessary cover and should not expose a child to any additional risk."

A PCT spokesman would not say whether the GP involved was still working at the surgery or if they had been disciplined.