PARENTS, patients and campaigners from Banbury gathered in front of the Horton General Hospital today to air their views on changes to local services.

The small demonstration saw at least 30 people congregate at the Oxford Road entrance coinciding with a visit from former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown.

Concerns were expressed about the downgrade of the Horton's maternity department to a midwife-led unit at the start of the month, due to staff shortages.

High-risk mothers now need to give birth at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and those deemed low-risk will be rushed down by ambulance if an emergency arises.

Full-time carer Jan Bennett, 52, said her third daughter who was born with complications in 1997 would not be alive had the situation been the same at the time.

She said: "I was classed as a low-risk birth. Things went horrifically wrong and my daughter had to be resuscitated.

"If it hadn't been for the doctor on duty she would not have survived, and wouldn't have survived the 45-minute drive to the John Radcliffe.

"For the size of Banbury's population it's an accident waiting to happen. It's going to be a life lost. They can't do this; this is our hospital."