An independent panel has renewed its backing for a breast cancer unit to stay in Brighton and Hove.

The citizens' panel met for the first time in November and supported the campaign, backed by The Argus, to keep the Nigel Porter Unit for Breast Care at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, instead of transferring it 17 miles away to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, as health chiefs proposed.

After a second meeting, the panel has again decided the unit should remain in Brighton.

When the panel met last year, members expressed a preference for the unit to remain in the city but asked for more information about public transport links before a final decision could be made.

The panel also asked for an independent architect's report to take another look at the Royal Sussex County Hospital site to see if there was an alternative location for the unit to expand into.

The panel met in Lewes on Thursday, where the information was presented and campaigners fighting to keep the unit in Brighton, led by city councillor Jayne Bennett and Leonie Petrarca, gave a presentation about why the unit should stay in the city.

The duo presented a proposal that a new unit should be built on the Rosaz House site in Bristol Gate, Brighton, opposite the oncology centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

They had an architect draw up plans free of charge showing the site was a viable option.

They also commissioned a transport study which backed the campaign for the unit to remain.

Their presentation persuaded the panel the unit should remain in the city and preferably on the Rosaz House site.

Coun Bennett said: "Everyone involved in the campaign is very pleased at the result of the panel. We were grateful to be given the chance to present our Rosaz House option for keeping the unit in Brighton.

"If we had not had the opportunity to speak out this unit would probably be on its way out of the city already."

Ms Petrarca said: "We have felt all along that the whole process has been weighted against any option being found to keep the unit in Brighton. We believe this is where it will deliver the best care for patients alongside the multi-disciplinary teams of the Sussex Oncology Centre on the Royal Sussex site. We have never seen the logic in moving the screening unit out of the area it screens.

"We have an excellent bus service that stops at the hospital every few minutes. Unfortunately, Haywards Heath is not as lucky as we are."

But the fight is not yet over. If planning permission is not granted for a new unit, the transfer to Haywards Heath would go ahead.

The panel's decision will go to a joint board meeting on Thursday, March 21 at Hove Town Hall, where health chiefs will make a final decision.