Hospital campaigners in West Cumbria are urging people to lobby health trusts and politicians to keep services local following the decision to save Workington's court buildng.

Lynne Davies, of the campaign group We Need West Cumberland Hospital, issued the plea after the Government cited long journey times and poor public transport links among its reasons for keeping West Cumbria's only court open.

Opponents of the court closure plan were concerned victims and witnesses attending court would face lengthy trips if justice could not be done locally.

Lynne, of Chaucer Road, Workington, said: "We deserve easily accessible health services as well as a court.

"I understand there are victims and children involved going to court but there are also children and elderly people in pain having to travel to Carlisle, sometimes at night and in horrendous weather conditions.

"Attending court might be a traumatic experience but you're not physically in pain and you don't have to rely on an ambulance being available.

"They should make it a level playing field."

The campaign group was formed almost two years ago to tackle the gradual loss of key hospital services from Whitehaven.

They want to see emergency surgery and trauma provision, which has been centralised at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary, return.

Hospital bosses have blamed staff shortages and a difficulty attracting new consultants for the loss of some services from Whitehaven, and the question marks that hang over other services like maternity.

Lynne said: "It seems they can get magistrates easier than they can get consultants."

She is urging people to write to their MP, health ministers, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group calling for the principles used in the decision to save the court to be mirrored in decisions about the future of the West Cumberland Hospital.