Hospital bosses are hoping to cut a £1.5 million debt by getting staff to switch off lights.

Eastbourne District General Hospital has fallen into the red due to the strain of taking on more permanent staff.

Bosses, looking at ways the hospital can cut costs without hindering services, have come up with a simple idea which could save thousands of pounds.

The hospital's 2,500 workers are being urged to switch off lights if they are away from a room for more then 15 minutes and at the end of a working day.

They are being told to make sure unnecessary heating, computer and other electrical equipment is turned off when not in use. Dripping or faulty taps will also face a clampdown.

Last year, Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the DGH, All Saints Hospital in Eastbourne and a maternity unit in Crowborough, received a massive £1.1 million energy bill.

Of the total, £400,000 was spent on electricity, £360,000 on gas and £390,000 on water and sewage.

Darren Jones, energy technician at the DGH, said: "Individuals may not think they have a part to play in saving energy whereas the reality is they can make a substantial difference.

"If we could encourage just a small percentage of our people to think about switching off lights when they are not needed, we could make a significant reduction in electricity costs."

Hospital bosses have promised the campaign will not affect medical services.