THE battle to save the Alexandra Hospital from being downgraded will be stepped up this Saturday when a protest march takes place through Redditch town centre.

Hundreds of residents are expected to show their strength of feeling towards to proposed cutback of services, including the transfer of maternity and paediatrics departments to Worcester. The march starts at Redditch Town Hall at 11am with speeches from MP Jacqui Smith and Conservative party spokesman Karen Lumley.

It will then take a half-mile route past the Sportsman's Arms pub down Archer Street towards the the Strategic Health Authority offices in Prospect Hill. On the return journey, protesters can write their feelings about the possible downgrade of services on a graffiti wall at St Stephen's Church in Church Green.

Organiser Neal Stote, who is spearheading the savethealex campaign, said: "This event is really about numbers, we want to see as many people out as possible - the more, the better!"

Last week the Advertiser revealed health chiefs had taken a dramatic U-turn by deciding to save the A&E departments at the Alex.

However, Mr Stote said: "We are now fighting for the paediatrics, gynaecology and maternity departments."

For more details, visit the website www.savethealex.co.uk

Correspondence for this campaign can now be sent to the Redditch Advertiser, Yorkshire Bank Chambers, 7 Unicorn Hill, Redditch B97 4QR.