Anyone who wants to save Maryport hospital is urged to turn up to a demonstration on Wednesday.

This will be the first major event in a campaign set up which aims to convince the Success Regime that removing beds from the hospital is a mistake.

The demonstration will take place at 6.30pm on Wednesday, May 18.

Around 70 people answered the call to a meeting to start a concerted campaign that has been named Save Our Beds.

The meeting was called by Ewanrigg and Netherton Tenants' and Residents' Association.

Plans are already well under way after the first meeting held at Ewanrigg Community Centre last night .

Meetings will be held at the centre every Wednesday at 7pm starting to ensure that no momentum is lost.

The association and Ewanrigg Local Trust are to fund the printing of 1,000 notices to be put in shop windows and houses around Maryport and outlying districts.

Ribbons will be made available from the community centre.

People will be invited to write messages on them and tie them to railings outside the hospital.

A petition could be started but everyone will be asked to write to the Success Regime, the Healthwatch Survey and Workington MP Sue Hayman.

No town councillors were at the meeting, promoting a call from the audience for them to show a lead in this campaign.

Anyone needing help writing letters or accessing computers have been invited to go to the community centre for help.

All letters can be dropped into the letter box at the community centre on Ennerdale Road and these will be posted at no charge to the writer.

The campaign has agreed to find a list of events happening in Maryport, Flimby, Broughton Moor, Dearham and Crosby and ensure that they have a presence at any of these.

Ewanrigg Local Trust received a Lottery grant of £1 million because it was considered one of the top areas of deprivation in the country.

The trust has been asked to obtain figures which show the health issues here, the low number of cars per capita and the lack of bus services for people who would need to access hospital services in other towns if Maryport is closed.