MALMESBURY maternity unit campaigners will continue to fight to save the unit following the deferment of a decision on its future.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust was due to make a decision on its proposals to close Malmesbury and Devizes maternity units on Tuesday but has deferred it until its meeting on July 27.

The reason for the deferral is so the trust can explore in more detail what impact closing the Malmesbury unit would have on women in Swindon.

Stephen Golledge, acting joint chief executive of the trust, said: "A small number of women from Swindon use the Malmesbury unit.

"In recognition of this we have asked the Swindon overview and scrutiny committee to consider whether our proposals are significant to their population."

About 20 per cent of the births at Malmesbury are from women living in Swindon like Alexandra Martin of Gorse Hill. She is 11 weeks pregnant and wants to give birth at Malmesbury.

She went to Malmesbury for ante natal and post natal care for her first child, Mary. She wanted to give birth at Malmesbury but because she was two weeks overdue she was advised to go to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, where she gave birth naturally.

Mrs Martin, 28, said: "The care I received at Malmesbury for my first pregnancy was second to none and seeing the same midwives is great."

Campaigners have called on the trust to give the unit a two year trial period. So far this year there has been more than 50 births at the unit, a 50 per cent increase on the same time last year.