THE campaign to protect Kidderminster Hospital from further downgrading or closure received more than 2,000 signatures in four hours at a public awareness event.

Protest group, the Kidderminster Hospital Alliance, held the event outside Kidderminster Town Hall between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.

By 2pm 2,335 people had signed the petition which states: “We the undersigned, demand that Worcestershire NHS retain Kidderminster Hospital, protect its services and even seek to enhance those services for the good of patients in the whole county and neighbouring areas.”

The alliance will hold another public awareness event tomorrow evening at Aggborough Stadium where Kidderminster Harriers take on Walsall. They will collect signatures from 6.30pm, at half time and after the match.

They will also set up outside the Co-op on Lombard Street in Stourport on Thursday (August 2).

Stephen Brown, who helped set up the non-political Alliance, said: "The result is magnificent, we have hit the ground running and to collect 2,335 signatures in just four hours demonstrates that Wyre Forest residents care about their hospital.

“We have received many phone calls and emails over the last few days from people anxious about the NHS plans and wanting to show their support for us and opposition to any plan which means the loss of the hospital or loss of services.

“If anything, many were saying they want more services brought back to Kidderminster Hospital.”