1,000 march in support of Telford's Princess Royal Hospital - with pictures

The one-mile march was organised by Telford & Wrekin Council, and started in Walker Street, Wellington, at 2pm, before heading towards Charlton School.

The march came after health bosses discussed plans for possible night closures of the A&E at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital and moving the women and children's unit to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, although last week the man in charge of Shropshire's two main hospitals said he would keep Telford's £28 million women and children's centre at the Princess Royal Hospital - no matter what decision is made about where to base the county's emergency centre.

Simon Wright, the man in charge of both Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and PRH, said PRH will also benefit from a new a cancer unit for patients needing day case treatment such as chemotherapy.

But Telford & Wrekin Council Leader Shaun Davies today said he was not going to be "fooled by these people" who say the hospital's services will be safe.

Councillor Davies added: "This is an opportunity for residents of Telford and Wrekin to come out and show their support for the Princess Royal Hospital, our NHS, and to show that we're not going to be fooled by these people who said it's going to be safe.

"They may keep the name-plate but the services will go.

Councillor Davies added: "We've got hundreds of people here, mayors, councillors, and residents, and it's fantastic to see so many people coming out on a sunny afternoon.

"There are lots of people with banners saying they were born or treated at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, people really have turned out in their hundreds.

Here's how we covered the march as it happened:

Councillor Davies said: "It's fantastic to see everybody here supporting the hospital, the A&E, and the the Women and Children's Unit, people from all over Telford & Wrekin and further.

"This shows we will not tolerate the closure or downgrade of services, we will not be fooled or misled by these people who said that victory has been secured, nothing could be further from the truth.

"We will not be divided and we will not be misled."

Councillor Davies also thanked the almost 32,000 people who have signed the pledge to support the services at the Princess Royal Hospital.

He has previously said that next month, the council will hold an extraordinary general meeting on a motion of "no confidence" in the management of SaTH.