CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Ribchester Hospital lost the first round of their battle when members of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Authority voted to close the building.

After a two hour debate the decision to close the hospital went through by eight votes to six - but members of an action group said they would not give up.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.