Campaigners were to learn today whether plans for a multi-million-pound hospital in Mid Sussex will be approved.

Supporters have spent years fighting for the hospital at Pease Pottage, near Crawley, but fear their efforts will be in vain.

Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority board's meeting today was expected to approve turning East Surrey Hospital in Redhill into the main hospital for the north Sussex and south-east Surrey region while developing some services at the existing Crawley Hospital.

Health chiefs say the cost of creating the Pease Pottage hospital would be between £183 million and £259 million, the alternative between £56 million and £85 million.

And it would be at the expense of developments in primary, community and mental health services across the region.

Campaigners for the development are bitterly disappointed.

A group of 15 travelled to Westminster yesterday to put their case to Crawley MP Laura Moffatt and health ministers. They say Crawley is expanding and needs a hospital able to cope with demand.

Crawley Primary Care Trust has agreed to support the development of the Pease Pottage hospital but has warned finding £6.9 million to run the hospital each year would be difficult.

Crawley borough councillor Brenda Smith said: "The wishes of the people of Crawley have been ignored.

"We have wasted a year going through a long and detailed review process which eventually agreed a hospital at Pease Pottage was the best option.

"Now that review and its recommendation has been ignored."