SHOPPERS in Malton are rallying around the fight to save Malton's maternity unit.

Backing the Gazette & Herald's Birth Right campaign is the town's mayor, Jane Ford, who has helped launch a petition, which will be presented to local NHS bosses.

Despite the driving rain she collected a further 160 signatures in the Market Place on Saturday, adding increasing pressure on cash-strapped health chiefs to keep deliveries in the Ryedale hospital.

Many campaigners feel that the proposals by the NHS Trust are a done deal' and the forthcoming public consultation is simply putting this in motion.

But this has not deterred the mother-of-three, who had two of her children at the maternity wing in Malton, said she will fight tooth and nail to prevent the unit from being turned into offices.

She said: "The overwhelming message I get from people is they don't want the maternity unit to be reduced even further.

"Shoppers were telling me they support the campaign - even people who were on holiday and don't live in the area.

"People see it as a money saving exercise and they should be thinking about what mothers want, not just about cost."

Petitions have been left in shops around the town and so far hundreds of people have shown their support for the campaign.

It is hoped that a public consultation will be launched by December 11 where locals, medical experts and mothers will be asked for their view on the changes.

If the health bosses get their way mothers will be encouraged to give birth at home or travel to bigger hospitals in York, Scarborough, Northallerton and Middlesbrough. They insist that the moves are not about saving money.

But this has done nothing to quell the fears of locals.

Jane added: "I am going to do everything within my power stop this from happening.

"This is an issue that affects a lot of people in Ryedale and they cannot be allowed to ride rough shod over mothers and their new-borns."

* While gathering support for the campaign the town's mayor was also raising vital funds for Malton Hospital's League of Friends.

Raffling off a collection of cuddly toys donated by the owner of the fun fair that recently visited Wentworth Street car park she raised more than £100 for the charity.

The winners were: Mr Hutchinson from Malton, Andrew Monks, P Brown from Norton and Mr Archibald, also from Malton.