The spiralling costs of transferring in-patient beds from a Littlehampto hospital are causing concern.

Zachary Merton Hospital at Rustington is being expanded to 60 beds while Littlehampton Hospital is being redeveloped into an outpatient resource centre for health and social services.

Littlehampton Town Council and Worthing and District Community Health Council (CHC) both said they were deeply concerned the cost is already up to £10.5 million and it could still rise.

Littlehampton town councillor Rosemary Orpin has called for any inquiry.

She said: "The cost is already three times what we originally thought it would be and that is not the final figure.

"We are not happy about this at all. We would like the plans to go back to the drawing board."

In a statement the CHC said: "The CHC continues to support the original proposals and is deeply concerned at the spiralling costs now being reported.

"We sincerely hope that the primary care trust will be able to put the scheme back on track for the benefit of the local community."

The health watchdog recently held discussions with the former West Sussex Health Authority and Worthing Priority Care NHS Trust and the newly established Adur, Arun, Worthing Primary Care Trust regarding the future of the community hospitals.

It told primary care trust representatives that any major variations from the original proposals would require further full public consultation, especially bearing in mind that 12 beds in Littlehampton Hospital had been permanently closed as a result of the consultative exercise.

Littlehampton Town Council fought hard to keep the service local.

Councillors claimed Zachary Merton was difficult to get to and Littlehampton needed a bedded hospital as it had a growing population.