LABOUR'S call for Health Concern's Dr Richard Taylor to resign as a General Election candidate has been dubbed the act of a "desperate" man.

Dr Taylor said Labour rival David Lock's claim he now accepted it was not possible to have a full "blue light" accident and emergency unit at Kidderminster Hospital, and should therefore withdraw, was "absolute rubbish".

He said: "This is a figment of his imagination and I won't comment except to say this is the move of a desperate person."

Mr Lock's call follows comments by Dr Taylor at a forum of district candidates at Wyre Forest Community Church on Monday.

Mr Lock said: "His comments fly in the face of everything Mr Taylor has campaigned for over the last three years.

"He has let down hundreds of local people who had put their trust in him and scared many thousands more into believing he could help them.

"He is now a single issue candidate without a single issue."

Conservative candidate Mark Simpson said: "I was at the meeting. The audience was a little taken aback because Dr Taylor seemed to back pedal on his campaign and what many of his supporters are expecting. I think he should clarify his position."

But Dr Taylor said: "Our aim remains the restoration of equality with other hospitals and the emergency services the people need because we're the only community of this size that has been robbed of its acute services.

"But I am not trying to con anybody into believing I can sort all services at the hospital immediately."

He said a start could be the restoration of doctors, trained in A & E medicine, to the minor injuries unit on a 24-hours a day basis, and a return of inpatient elective surgery.

He added: "But that is only the start."