March! March! March! That is the message from the Save Our Beds campaign this week.

Organisers have said that tomorrow’s protest march is a vital part of the campaign to save beds at Maryport Hospital.

Ewanrigg Local Trust chairwoman Sharon Barnes said this is the one big, public opportunity to show the Success Regime the strength of feeling in Maryport, Dearham, Flimby, Broughton Moor and Crosby - all the areas that will be affected by the removal of beds from Maryport hospital.

Anyone from any of the other cottage hospitals affected by the Success Regime proposals are also welcome to join in.

“We need to get the message across very loudly and very clearly,” Mrs Barnes said.

The march tomorrow begins outside the Ewanrigg and Netherton Community Centre at 9am where the gathering will be addressed by Workington MP Sue Hayman.

It will then walk past the hospital, up Curzon Street, along Senhouse Street and down to the Wave Centre.

“It is quite a long way for some people to walk,” Mrs Barnes said.

But she said people could join the march wherever they wanted and for however long they could walk.

She emphasised that although the march is an important demonstration it in no way marks the end of the campaign.

“We will continue fighting the Success Regime until we win,” she vowed.

She said a paper petition has now reached over 4,000 signatures with more still coming in.

There are also more than 500 signatures on an online petition launched by the Times & Star on SOB’s behalf.