MORE than 1,000 protesters are expected to take part in a march on Saturday over cuts to NHS services at Hartlepool Hospital.

The rally was the brainchild of Sue Little from Seaton Carew who wants the downgrading of her local hospital reversed.

A campaign launched on internet networking site, Facebook, has attracted pledges from more than 700 people intending to march and almost another 300 hoping to take part in the event which starts at Seaton Carew Bus station at 11am.

In recent years acute medical and surgical services, including its Accident and Emergency department, have been transferred to the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

Health bosses argued this was needed to maintain and improve the safety and quality of hospital-based care but, due to a lack of political support, plans for a new £300m ‘super hospital’ at Wynyard were put on hold last October until after the General Election.

The protest will follow a route along the seafront, up through the marina area then along Lancaster Road, and up Powlett Road to the rear of the hospital, when marchers are expected to arrive between 12.30pm and 1pm.

Mrs Little, 41, from Seaton Carew, said: “I want people to enjoy it. It’s a show of support, the biggest forum this town has got is our streets.

“People don’t need to walk all of the way, they can join us at any point along the route.

“People can bring their dogs, put their kids in their buggies, anything they want to show they are supporting what we are trying to do.”