A BRIDLINGTON Hospital campaigner has vowed to go to the European Court of Human Rights after being left "devastated" by a decision to cut services.

Committed campaigner Mick Pilling has been left shattered by the news that Health Secretary Alan Johnson has accepted the Independent Reconfiguration Panel's (IRP) recommended that cardiac and acute medical services at Bridlington Hospital should transfer to Scarborough which has been accepted by Secretary of State Alan Johnson.

Mr Pilling will now discuss the next step with local MP Greg Knight and union Unite.

He said: "We will have a meeting with Mr Knight and maybe look to appeal the decision or take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.

"We will also talk with Unite to see where this takes us."

Meanwhile, Len Powell, 75, of St Aiden Court, Bridlington, insists he wouldn't be here today without the hospital.

He said: "I owe my life to the team at Bridlington Hospital.

"I had a massive heart attack seven years ago and I wouldn't be here if I'd had to go to Scarborough.

"I feel sorry for anyone who has a heart attack in Bridlington now. I'm not sure they'd make it.

The hospital has suffered a number of ward closures in recent years long with the loss of maternity and mental health services.

Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust welcomed the report.

The Trust's Interim Medical Director Earl Haworth said:

"We can now move forward with our work to improve health services for the people of Bridlington and Scarborough."

The IRP decision follows a lengthy campaign against the proposals that included more than 39,000 people signing a protest petition, handed in at Downing Street in March, and a 6000-strong demonstration marching through Bridlington in July.