Mothers march to save Ludlow's baby unit

The move follows a meeting that saw about 30 campaigners, including young mothers, meet up to discuss concerns over the long-term future of Ludlow Hospital's midwife-led unit.

They hope to grill health bosses over how rural maternity services such as those at Ludlow, Bridgnorth and Oswestry are to be funded beyond April 2017.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs the Ludlow unit, insists there are no plans to close it permanently.

But fears have been raised after the unit at the hospital on Gravel Hill was temporarily closed last week due to concerns over the ageing building it was based in. Services are set to resume in the hospital's more modern main building by early November.

Campaigners who raised a 1,700-signature petition said they are still worried as a contract between SaTH and Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which would guarantee funding for rural maternity services, has yet to be signed.

Alison Hiles, one of the organisers, said there was relief the maternity unit had reopened but called on health chiefs to come to the town, to discuss its long-term future.

Fellow organiser Sarah Meek said it was a "very emotional" meeting that proved the need to fight to keep the maternity unit.

She urged supporters to meet at noon in Castle Square on December 3, adding: "We want parents to bring their banners and babies. We want to show them we will not let them close our maternity and hospital."

Campaigners also plan to attend a public meeting organised by Ludlow MP and health minister Philip Dunne at Ludlow Assembly Room on November 9 from 4.30pm.

Gill Jones, of Shropshire Defend Our NHS, said she was in close contact with the campaigning mums as the Shropshire group "wholeheartedly" supported its cause.

She said: "I understand it was a very lively meeting and was regarded as a great success."