Drivers are to face a huge increase in car parking charges at a Suffolk hospital to pay for improved security.

A four-hour stay in the car park at Ipswich Hospital will increase from �2 to �5 for a four-hour stay from 1 December.

The plans have raised concerns among visitors, as well as residents who fear nearby streets will become congested as a result.

But Christine Smart, the chairman of the Ipswich NHS Trust, told BBC Radio Suffolk the price rise was justified.

Patient care

The money will pay for more closed-circuit television coverage, a better alarm system and possibly a full-time police officer on site.

Ms Smart said: "We've given this a great deal of thought.

"Obviously we can't use money that is for patient care, so we've had to look at other methods of paying for this.

"This is the only way we can think of doing so at the current time."

The hospital has promised there will be concessions for those who need to visit frequently.