The long-running issue over hospital maternity services in East Sussex appears to have finally come to an end.

Eastbourne District General Hospital will continue to have a midwife-run maternity unit while consultant-led services will be based at the Conquest in St Leonards.

With the county's scrutiny committee accepting the decision and not referring it to the secretary of state, it seems the bitterly angry campaigners have come to the end of the road.

Health bosses have insisted all along the decision to downgrade was to ensure the services are safe and sustainable while campaigners believe the longer journeys will put women and babies needing specialist care at risk.

It remains to be seen how things turn out, but it is to be hoped the predictions made by the campaigners do not come true, otherwise health bosses may find themselves having to answer some very difficult questions.