THOUSANDS of protesters are joining the fight to save Fairfield's Special Care Baby Unit.

More than 4,000 supporters have already signed petitions against the closure, and the Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society believe this is just the beginning.

Lifeline member, Sharron Entwistle, said: "So far we have managed to collect 4,500 signatures through protest stands in Bury and Rawtenstall town centres and sending out our Babies First leaflets.

"Considering the campaign only kicked off three weeks ago, we have had a superb response. Our absolute minimum aim is for 10,000 signatures but we are expecting many, many more."

The Lifeline are now planning to contact all parents who have given birth in the special care baby unit in the last five years to ask for their support and are confident to see a full house at their public meeting on September 13.

The meeting, in the Elizabethan Suite of Bury Town Hall, will give people the chance to express their opinions over the recommendations and the Lifeline hope to invite key health officials, involved in the development of the proposals, to answer the public's questions along with councillors and local MPs.

Following the meeting, the campaign's next move will be a protest march, from Fairfield Hospital to Bury, in October as the three month consultation period over the recommendations begins.

Sharron said: "We have no set date for the march yet, as we are waiting to see when it will make the biggest impact, but we are desperately in need for some equipment to help the march run smoothly, such as megaphones and yellow bibs. We would really appreciate anyone being able to lend us such items or make a donation, of any amount, to help our campaign."

To make a donation to the Lifeline campaign send a cheque, made payable to Babies First, to Mr D Entwistle, Care of Box 24, Spring Vale Mill, Waterside Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, BB4 5EZ. Alternatively, you can contact Sharron, on 0781-387-0002, for more information and for details of donating items for the march.