Campaigners are calling for the Government to intervene over plans by a health trust to cut its workforce by a third.

The trust, which manages Bridlington Hospital, as well as hospitals in Scarborough, Malton and Whitby, is proposing to reduce the number of staff by 600 by next April, to help claw back a financial deficit of £27.9m.

Today, union officials, politicians and residents called for Hull West and Hessle MP and newly-appointed Health Secretary Alan Johnson to stop Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust from making the cuts.

Unison regional officer Ray Gray said the planned reduction in staff was one of the biggest he was aware of in the NHS.

"Job losses on this scale are unprecedented and it is vital that the Government steps in to stop the disaster happening," he said.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight said he was "appalled" by the proposals and has asked for a meeting with Mr Johnson to discuss the matter.

The Mail tried to contact Mr Johnson, but he was unavailable for comment.

However, a spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The trust has assured us this is about getting into a position fit for the future, getting the right staff working in the right services for patients while ensuring high-quality patient care."

The trust plans to cut the number of full-time equivalent posts from 1,975 to about 1,375.

It is not yet clear how many jobs will be lost at Bridlington Hospital.

Trust chief executive Iain McInnes said redundancies were a last resort and the trust would look at natural wastage and staff redeployment.

He also said healthcare would not be compromised, despite concerns among residents.

"Patient safety is absolutely paramount and we won't be doing anything that jeopardises that," he said.

The proposals will be put before the trust's board next Tuesday.

Mick Pilling, chairman of the Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group, said: "We need everyone to lobby MPs and to fight this at the top level."

Malcolm and June Websdale, of Bridlington, both suffer from heart complaints and are regularly treated at the hospital.

Mr Websdale, 69, who was rushed into hospital after an attack six months ago, said: "If it wasn't for Bridlington Hospital, I would be dead - that's a fact. I wouldn't have made it to Scarborough."

The latest announcement comes as residents in Driffield and the surrounding area, who are referred to Bridlington for treatment, also face losing NHS beds at the town's Alfred Bean hospital, under separate plans by the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Health watchdogs said they had not been informed about the proposed cuts and they are now concerned about the effect they could have on the PCT's plans.

Ros Jump, chair of East Riding Council's NHS Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: "I didn't have any prior warning. My main concern is these changes could have a knock on effect and the PCT's plans for Bridlington could go up in smoke."

The Mail has been fighting service cuts with the Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign.