MENA Rising was granted her last wish when she was allowed to die in dignity at the hospital she fought to save.

Mrs Rising, 77, of, Arundell Close, Westbury, died last Wednesday at the town's community hospital. She was the last inpatient left, after doctors said she was too ill to be moved when West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust closed down the ward.

Mrs Rising was diagnosed with bowel cancer in September 2004 and the disease then spread through her body. She had been in Westbury Hospital for two weeks when the trust announced it was to close the 16-bed inpatient unit ahead of schedule and move patients to other community hospitals.

Her husband Ken, 78, had fought to save the hospital and had attended a recent protest march despite suffering from serious health problems himself.

Westbury town councillor Charlie Finbow, a friend of the couple, fought to allow her to stay at Westbury. He said: "She was a lovely lady, a real good old-fashioned person. "She knew she only had a limited time to live. She said she wanted to die in the hospital surrounded by the staff that have cared for her and Ken over the years. "The doctors said she was too ill to move so she got her wish. It is such a shame it came to that."

The other inpatients at Westbury Hospital were transferred last Sunday.