The battle to save a hospital from closure has stepped up a gear with the launch of an online campaign.

Worthing MPs Peter Bottomley and Tim Loughton have set up a website urging people to join the campaign to protect the town's hospital.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Mr Loughton said: "If we get a huge number of people to sign up in opposition to the plans we stand a chance of influencing them.

"I am convinced the authorities have Worthing fixed firmly in their sights for cuts and we must oppose them with mass and overwhelming opposition."

The MPs' move follows the revelation that bosses at South East Coast Strategic Health Authority are refusing to rule out the possibility Worthing Hospital may close.

The authority is looking at all options to save millions of pounds, and at the very least the hospital may lose services such as accident and emergency or maternity.

St Richard's Hospital in Chichester is also under threat of closure and Eastbourne District General Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards may lose services.

Closing Worthing could save the authority £44 million helping to reduce the county's £100 million debt mountain.

It would mean dozens of job losses and would leave many patients with a 15-mile journey to the nearest hospital in Brighton.

The authority insists no decision has been made and it wants to stimulate debate, with responses to the ideas due before July 21. A formal consultation will be launched in September or October.

However, confidential briefings made by consultants have indicated that services at almost every hospital in the county, apart from the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, are under threat.

West Worthing MP Peter Bottomley said: "The authorities must realise that instead of moving the patients from Worthing to where there is the budget to treat them, they should instead be moving the money to the patients. Worthing is the largest town in West Sussex."

Worthing Borough Council is holding an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to discuss the the hospital's future.

Councillors have reacted with horror to the plans and a notice of motion, setting out the council's position, is expected to be approved at the meeting.

The motion says: "Worthing Borough Council will resist any closures of any facilities in Worthing Hospital.

"The council believes that given the elderly population, the diabolical road infra-structure and the Government imposed building programme, which will result in many more families moving to Worthing, the town deserves and requires improved medical facilities."

The MPs' website can be found at www.kwash.org.uk