CAMPAIGNERS against the move of maternity services to Halifax have been sharing their fears with a peer.

People in Crosland Moor and Netherton discussed their fears about the removal of vital services with Lib-Dem Lord Wallace of Saltaire during an electioneering visit.

They were joined by Crosland Moor Kirklees ward councillor Shahida Awan, who says the proposed changes are inhumane.

Last Wednesday, Examiner editor Roy Wright and news editor Neil Atkinson delivered 7,127 letters protesting about the changes to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt in London.

They also had talks about the issue with the minister.

At the Huddersfield meeting Clr Awan said the move would put the lives of mothers and babies at risk.

Tracy Butters told Lord Wallace she had had her baby prematurely early in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, so he had to stay in hospital when she went home.

Under the proposed system she would have faced a much longer journey to Halifax for her daily visits.

Clr Awan has proved to herself that it takes more than 30 minutes to drive from Huddersfield to Halifax hospitals in the rush hour.

Following the decisions made at the Galpharm Stadium by the health trusts, she commented: "We were against the removal of any services from Huddersfield at all.

"But if they could have left the maternity and children's service here it would have been a lot better.

"It's a shock. We didn't think they could be so inhumane."

She is determined to fight on, saying: "These proposals are unacceptable."

Lord Wallace said: "Liberal Democrats know that local people want good local services in their own area, whether it is hospitals, police or schools.

"The Labour Party are not delivering and their new policies will make things worse."