A NORTH-EAST maternity ward that prompted a patient revolt when it closed has reopened after 18 months.

Campaigners formed a "Mums' Army" when the South Tees Hospital NHS Trust closed the maternity unit at Guisborough Hospital, east Cleveland, in November 2002 because of a national shortage of midwives.

But now the Guisborough unit, where about 130 babies were born each year, has reopened.

The trust has managed to fill more than the 15 full-time posts needed to keep it open.

Campaigner Ruth Dickinson, who helped other petitioners collect thousands of signatures, said: "It's brilliant news.

"I would recommend everyone to have their baby at Guisborough, where I had my second child. It was wonderful."

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland, said the reopening was concrete evidence that campaigning on the streets could ensure that valuable services were not lost to a community.

"It was obvious that local people were not going to accept the closure of the unit and I was proud to be part of the vigorous campaign," he said.

Carol Murrish, community midwidery co-ordinator for South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We're delighted to be reopening the unit and we want it to be a thriving and well-used service for local women."