A CAMPAIGNER'S appeal for evidence on the effect of the downgrading of the Kidderminster Hospital has prompted a flood of letters and phone calls.

Louise Edginton, county councillor for Habberley and Blakebrook, who is bidding to take the fight to the European Court of Human Rights, said she had been "inundated" with more than 40 letters and a host of phone calls since last week's exclusive Shuttle/Times and News story about her move.

Mrs Edginton, who hopes to force a ruling which would lead to the restoration of services, said the "horrendous" stories she had heard would greatly strengthen the case.

She won a European hearing by citing the case of John Jones, 69, who died 20 minutes after arriving at the coronary care unit at Ronkswood Hospital.

Mr Jones, who lived five minutes from Kidderminster Hospital, feared he would die from long-standing heart problems if he had to be taken to Worcester for emergency treatment.

Mrs Edginton said concerns centred on the time it took to reach Worcester for treatment.

In a report to Kidderminster and District Community Health Council today, chairman Pauline Davis said some patients had refused to go to Ronkswood and so more acute cases than expected were being admitted to the GP unit at Kidderminster Hospital.