CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Westbury Hospital will be taking to the streets tomorrow to show the new Wiltshire PCT they will not give up the battle.

The Westbury Hospital League of Friends has organised the peaceful protest, which will start with a balloon launch at 11am in the Market Place before campaigners march to the hospital. Vice chairman Erica Watson said she was expecting another good turnout after thousands turned up to the last march.

She said: "The main reason is to highlight to the new Wiltshire PCT and the new board of directors that have been appointed that Westbury is the best they've got in Wiltshire and to close it was short sighted.

"It affects all of west Wiltshire not just Westbury and we are still committed to proving to them that we've got no plans to give up fighting to retain the services that are still there and get the others reopened.

"A lot of people still think it is too late but it's not."

She said the purpose of the balloon launch was to symbolise every patient who has been affected by the partial closure of the hospital.

"People have to wait longer for treatment which can only mean a delay in diagnosis and people suffering for longer," she said.

"We'll be marching quietly up to the hospital to demonstrate the strength of feeling in the town."

The march will be led by Westbury town crier and a pipers band from Warminster. There are likely to be several speeches from leading campaigners including West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison.

Westbury mayor Cllr Pamela Cox-Maidment, said she would be at the march to show her support of the hospital. "I'm still hopeful all the services can be reopened," she said.

Dr Murrison added: "It makes no sense to close modern hospitals like Westbury that the government will need if it wishes to pursue the local health care agenda that it has set out."