TODAY'S front page of The Northern Echo is a riposte to anybody who says that standing up and fighting for what you believe in is a waste of time.

The decision to shelve cuts to local NHS services, which threatened everything from A&E to maternity and paediatrics provision, is a major victory for campaigners and for good sense.

Despite our support for the campaign we feared that at some point we would be reporting a decision had been made to swing the axe. We are delighted that bosses have listened to the concerns of patients and professionals.

It remains to be seen whether this is a stay of execution or a long-term solution. The funding crisis which plagues the NHS means that the prospect of cuts is never completely off the agenda. There will never be a time when we can fully relax in the knowledge that hospitals, such as Darlington Memorial, James Cook University, and North Tees, are safe. There will also be lingering concerns that while the proposed changes have been shelved there might be cuts and restructuring in other areas that help to balance the books.

But right now let’s enjoy some good news.

For many people tomorrow’s Royal wedding offers a welcome distraction from the challenges of everyday life. We hope you all have a great day, but we think that this reprieve for our local hospitals is THE feelgood story of the year. It means people in our region will live longer, that babies and mothers will have a better chance of survival, that children will get a better start in life. It means more lives will be saved. It means that hope and a never-say-die attitude have won the day.