A service offering meals on wheels faces the axe as plans are made to bulldoze its headquarters to make way for luxury flats.

The service, run by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) at Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, has until December 31 to find a new home.

Based at Norman Hay Hall, a team of volunteers deliver more than 700 meals a week to about 160 elderly patients, or anyone who cannot get around in the town.

Marion Bainbridge ran the meals on wheels team for eight years until last year and still volunteers twice a week.

She said: "It's absolutely disgraceful and like a slap in the face. The WRVS has been based on the site for 50 years and actually helped pay for Norman Hay Hall.

"The charity also funded and built a canteen and shop, which it donated to the hospital. Now to be thrown out seems so unfair."

Caroline Reese, WRVS food services manager, said: "This is a vital service for the community and we're very disappointed to have been placed in this position.

"Our volunteers provide valuable contact for older people who may not have other regular visitors.

"This allows some elderly patients in hospital to return home, reducing the number of bed-blockers."

Mrs Reese said there were several options being considered. One was to ask for a new kitchen to be built when the planning application to build the flats was put forward.

Another was to find an alternative site in the town. However, Mrs Reese said premises were expensive and often did not have enough parking needed for the delivery lorries and volunteers.

The site is owned by the West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust and is due to be sold to developers once planning permission is granted.

Chris Bowman, head of project development at the trust, said the sale was necessary to improve services.

She said: "We need to sell the land to fund the rebuilding of Colwood and Larchwood hospitals on the site, which care for children and adolescents with mental health issues.

"The buildings are old and we want to provide a combined new service. To do that, we need to generate capital.

"Planning permission for the site will maximise the value, which is in everyone's best interests as the money goes towards the service.

"It's unfortunate the meals on wheels service is on the site but we are working closely to find a solution.

"We have appointed a commercial agent to work with WRVS to find new premises."

The trust hopes to submit plans for a residential development on the site by August.

Anyone who knows of a possible site for the WRVS can telephone Mrs Reese on 07714 898590.