A PROTEST march is to be held in Bury town centre next month to demand Fairfield Hospital's special care baby unit is kept open.

A date of October 16 has been set for the rally after 416 people crammed inside Bury Town Hall on Monday night to join the campaign to save it.

Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society is spearheading the protest and hoping thousands of people will join the demonstration and sign a mass petition, which will be presented to Parliament three days later.

Dr Said Hany, chairman of the society, said: "The people have said 'no' to the proposals!

"Monday's meeting was just the beginning. There is still much work to do. But it was a fantastic start and we have to build on that."

He added that the support of family doctors was another early boost in their fight, and urged people to write to local councillors and their MPs. Detailed plans of the march have yet to be finalised.

Bury North MP David Chaytor attended the meeting and told the audience: "The proposals deal with serious issues on children's health care, some of which would benefit constituents. But it does not give a reason why the Bury hospital has been selected for this change in services."

Members of the Bury Primary Care Trust Board told the Bury Times that they would now be asking for further information on how the plans affecting Fairfield Hospital were drawn up.