Pledge to keep Conquest A&E

New health boss Nick Yeo pledged: "It is very unlikely that there will be significant changes to accident and emergency services.

"I am confident there will remain 24-hour cover at both hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne.'

However, it does appear there will be just one fully-skilled maternity unit, but where has yet to be decided.

Mr Yeo - the new chairman of Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust - said consultations have been taking place with interested groups for the past year.

The public consultation will start early in March and is likely to last four months. He confirmed there will be a series of meetings, where the public will be allowed to have their say.

Over recent months, there has been great alarm over what will happen to the Conquest.

In October, around 7,000 people marched along Hastings seafront to express their fears and anger.