Campaigners battling to save health services in East Yorkshire said they were preparing for the biggest protest the area has seen.

Residents in Bridlington are organising the protest in a bid to retain services at the town's hospital, which they claim are under threat of being axed.

Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust, which runs the site, recently announced a U-turn on plans to axe 600 jobs from hospitals across the area, including Bridlington and Scarborough.

The Trust announced the decision after the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority agreed to "park" the Trust's historic financial deficit of £20.7m.

However, campaigners in the area served by Bridlington Hospital are disappointed there is still doubt over the future of the Cardiac Monitoring Unit (CMU) and Acute Medical wards.

They are now planning a mass protest in the town on Saturday, October 20, at 10am.  From the Bridlington Business Centre along Bessingby way and up Bessingby Road to the Bridlington Hospital Main Entrance; there we will discuss future events and listen to the Marchers

Mick Pilling, chair of the Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group, said: "If we don't do something now the hospital could be left with nothing but day surgery and walk-in services. People in the area need to stand up and be counted - otherwise we could be left with nothing.

"If these services go, it will be like ripping the heart and soul out of Bridlington Hospital."

The campaign group has had 10,000 leaflets printed and has already started distributing them.  CAN YOU HELP with DISTRIBUTION? if you can help ring Mick on 01262 671926

The leaflets were printed by Designs by Debbie, which has provided them free.  We need Distributors all over Bridlington and District to help circulate these leaflets; if you can help ring Mick on 01262 671926 this March-Protest-Rally must demonstrate the need of these services we could loose

Sales assistant Paula Marshall said: "We're happy to support such a good cause. People are very worried about what will happen to services at the hospital."

The trust has said no decisions have yet been made over its future. It is consulting with the national emergency care tsar, Professor Sir George Alberti, on which services to continue to provide.

Chief executive Iain McInnes said: "The developing thinking, on grounds of patient safety and clinical support available, is the current level of acute medicine, including cardiac care, is not sustainable.

"The next steps will include a detailed impact analysis of different scenarios working closely with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the Primary Care Trust.

"In addition, we will establish a risk challenge group involving local staff and community representation alongside our NHS and local authority partners."

Members of North Yorkshire County Council's overview and scrutiny committee held a public meeting last night to discuss the situation.