HOPES of saving Malton's maternity unit have been raised with the publication of a new report which says mums-to-be should have more choice when it comes to having their babies.

The report, by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), says women should have all the options explained to them before they choose between units such as Malton or a main unit, similar to that planned at Scarborough General.

The message has been welcomed by County Coun John Blackie who is a key campaigner in the fight to save the town's midwife-led unit.

Coun Blackie, chairman of North Yorkshire's health scrutiny committee, is leading a delegation to Westminster in the next few weeks which will include Malton's mayor, Coun Jane Ford, and representatives from Whitby and Bridlington where local maternity units are also under threat as a result of the multi-million pound cash crisis at Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

The Gazette launched its Birth Right campaign when the cuts were proposed, and more than 2,000 readers signed a petition which was handed in to health chiefs.

Coun Blackie said: "There's no turning back on this issue. We are hoping to meet ministers from the Department of Health and senior civil servants to discuss the future of the units."

He added that local MPs Robert Goodwill (Scarborough and Whitby), John Greenway (Ryedale) and Ann McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) had pledged their support.

"We think we have a very strong case to put to the Department of Health to retain the maternity units, especially with the new NICE guidelines which fully support mothers-tobe having choices, " said Coun Blackie.

A key public meeting is to be held at Bridlington on October 18 after which the Westminster meeting will be arranged.

"It is important that we go to the department with a united voice, " said Coun Blackie, who added that he was now preparing a report to be presented to ministers and civil servants emphasising the case for keeping the maternity units.

Coun Blackie said while he had received many communications from concerned residents anxious about the maternity units, he would be happy to receive more to take to the Westminster meeting if people wrote to him at County Hall, Northallerton.

A spokesman for NICE said: "All recommendations in the guidelines are under-pinned by the principle that women are provided with information and advice so they are in control of what happens to them during labour and are able to make decisions that are right for them and their baby."