ROSSENDALE'S MP Janet Anderson has told health chiefs she wants to see a birthing unit in the Valley.

The move could see babies being born in Rossendale again following the closure of the maternity unit at Rossendale General Hospital in 1986.

In recent years women wanting hospital births have had to travel to hospitals outside the Valley.

The MP is hopeful it will be included when options for changes to hospital services in East Lancashire are published in the next few days.

Mrs Anderson said: "If we lose maternity units in Rochdale and Bury there will be a big gap in facilities for Rossendale mums-to-be and it is even more important that we have a birthing unit in Rossendale."

Under the proposals it is thought cases where there are complications with pregnancy could attend Burnley General Hospital where there are proposals to create a centre of excellence for maternity and paediatric services.

The MP added: "I am very hopeful the suggestion I have put forward will be one of the options which goes forward for formal consultation. I was against the closure of the maternity unit at Rossendale General and I very much hope this goes through, so that children can be born again in Rossendale."

The news comes after the Evening Telegraph revealed last week that a new group - Rossendale Hospital Group - had been set up to lead a fight for a new cottage hospital to be built in the borough. The group wants to take advantage of new government proposals which back the introduction of modern cottage hospitals.

It came up with the plans after ward five, which has 14 beds for elderly mental health patients, became the latest in a string to close.

It is to move to Burnley General Hospital in April after health chiefs said it was no longer safe for staff and patients to work in an isolated hospital overnight without support for emergencies.

Public consultation on options for hospital services in East Lancashire is due to begin on March 20.