A crucial decision on the future of alternative health treatment on the NHS has been delayed.

West Sussex Health Authority is reviewing whether it can justify paying tens of thousands of pounds a year for homeopathic remedies.

It was due to make a commitment at a board meeting today but says it now needs more time to investigate the pros and cons before a final report is drawn up.

If the cuts go ahead, hundreds of people will have to pay for their homeopathic treatment or do without.

A campaign to save services was launched by the Mid Sussex Homeopathic Group and the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, both of which have contracts with the authority, when the review was announced earlier this year.

About 1,300 people signed a petition which was presented to the authority last month.

Homeopathy uses highly-diluted forms of natural substances to stimulate the body's healing process. It has been included in NHS funding since its launch in 1948.

Campaigners are delighted with the delay to the decision, which they hope will lead to the authority changing its mind.

Peter Mitchell, chairman of the Mid Sussex group, said: "It is a service that should be expanded, rather than cut.

"If it wasn't for us the decision probably would have been made by now but we have managed to show the health authority that a lot of people feel very strongly."

The health authority insists its proposals would still allow people currently receiving treatment to continue and that it would consider paying for homeopathic remedies for individual, exceptional cases.