FUNDRAISERS who have spent the last decade campaigning for top class breast cancer care in Huddersfield will meet with hospital bosses this week.

Organisers of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary's Breast Clinic Appeal - which has raised almost £1m over the last ten years - will come face-to-face with health officials on Thursday.

They will appeal for services to continue in the town.

The meeting comes after the Examiner revealed how four out of five Huddersfield breast operations will have to be transferred to Halifax if proposals to move all planned surgery to Calderdale Royal Hospital gets the go-ahead.

The move has angered people across the town who helped raise £300,000 in 1994 to build a specialised breast care suite and oncology unit at HRI.

The charity has since gone on to spend thousands of pounds on new equipment, research and activities for breast cancer sufferers that the unit could not otherwise afford.

It has spent more than £100,000 in the last two years alone.

John Woodhead, chairman of the HRI Breast Clinic Appeal, said he hoped the meeting would persuade health chiefs to reconsider the proposals.

He said: "We will be pressing very hard to keep breast surgery in Huddersfield.

"If anything, it should be moved here, given the history of breast services in the town.

"We have certain back-up here that there isn't in Halifax.

"We have spent money on that unit to a top grade level, equivalent to a private hospital.

"They are tearing history up and moving it for the sake of it.

"The people of Huddersfield have paid for that unit.

"We regard this meeting very seriously."

Health chiefs agreed to sit down with fundraisers after there was a wave of protests at public meetings held in November.

The meeting will be at the Infirmary on Thursday evening.