Health watchdogs have slammed a campaign to save a hospital claiming it could jeopardise the development of services.

Eastbourne, Seaford and Wealden Community Health Council (CHC) has hit back at criticism of plans to close Eastbourne's All Saints Hospital.

CHC members said they had been kept up to date on proposals drawn up by Eastbourne Hospital's NHS Trust and were fully in support of its plans. The trust wants to close All Saints because it considers the Victorian building, which caters for mainly elderly patients in short-term care, unfit for medical care.

Eastbourne Liberal Democrats, led by Parliamentary candidate Chris Berry, are calling for people to oppose the scheme.

The reaction has puzzled the CHC as a member of the borough council was on the project board which agreed the proposal.

Chairman Walter James said: "The trust's aim that the plan should ensure new services are more accessible and provided in modern settings is one that deserves to be welcomed, not opposed."

Mr James said the public should be reassured the closure would in no way mean a cut in services or a drop in the level of care for the elderly. He said the CHC would be closely scrutinising plans as they are drawn up.

"I hope the public will not lend its support to a purely negative campaign to save All Saints."

The plans are set to go to public consultation after being submitted to East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority.