More than 5,000 people flooded St George’s Square today for the biggest post war demonstration in Huddersfield against plans to close the town's A&E department.
Sober-suited MPs and councillors mixed with Morris dancers, bikers and thousands of Kirklees residents, furious at the shock proposals unveiled by health bosses earlier this year.
Among the speakers to address the crowds were Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney and Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff.
RECAP: All the action from today's huge #handoffhri march in St.George's Square
Jason said: “If we lose our A&E department lives will be put at risk.”
And campaign organiser Karl Deitch said he was delighted by the turnout saying: “This just shows what this means to us as a town. We just can’t lose our A&E.”
After the speeches the protesters marched around Huddersfield town centre before hearing from medics, students and others including Unison’s Paul Cooney, all desperate to save the town’s A&E.
