MATERNITY unit campaigners lobbied MPs as they took their fight to Westminster.

More than 30 mums and midwives fighting to save Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units from closure travelled from Wiltshire to London on Monday.

They presented a Gazette and Herald organised petition signed by 8,650 people when they met North Wiltshire MP James Gray, Devizes MP Michael Ancram and Shadow Health Minister John Baron, who will present the petition to the Secretary of State for Health, Dr John Reid.

The petition calls on Dr Reid to intervene to stop Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust closing both units and transferring women to Chippenham and Trowbridge maternity units.

The Gazette and up to three campaigners, including Devizes Mayor Paula Winchcombe, had been promised a ten minute meeting with Under Secretary State for Health Dr Stephen Ladyman, but we were informed on Friday afternoon that he had pulled out because of another commitment.

Undeterred the campaigners brought home-made banners and placards and displayed them outside Parliament.

They also marched to the Department of Health in Whitehall and held a peaceful protest opposite the gates of Downing Street. They created much interest and the story was covered by regional TV news programmes.

Numerous tourists and members of the public also stopped and wished the campaigners well, including a retired midwife.

While they were in Whitehall numerous motorists tooted their car horns in support, reminding those who took part of last year's protest march in Devizes in which 500 people participated.

A small delegation of the campaigners were allowed into Downing Street and a leaflet about Devizes Maternity Unit was handed into Number 10.

Devizes midwife Helen Cosslett said: "We wanted to let Tony Blair know that the petition would be presented to the Secretary of State for Health and to also explain what the maternity unit does. The leaflet explains what quality care it gives. It is a home from home unit which is what the Government wants more of."

MPs James Gray and Michael Ancram were impressed by the number of people who had signed the Gazette's petition and pledged to continue the fight to retain both maternity units as 24 hour units offering birthing facilities, ante natal and in patient post natal care. Mr Gray said: "I'm delighted that people have taken the trouble to come up to Parliament and it's extremely important that they have done so to deliver this superb petition and I thank and congratulate all the people who have signed it.

"The only thing the Government understands is numbers so having a petition with more than 8,500 signatures is incredibly important."

Mr Ancram agreed.

He said: "This petition is the culmination of a lot of hard work by people in Devizes, which we all feel strongly about.

"The maternity unit is a facility that is very much loved by people in Devizes and the surrounding area.

"It would be a very retrograde step if it were closed and merged with Trowbridge Maternity Unit, which is a considerable distance for people to travel."

John Baron said: "Midwifery led maternity units are very, very important. We have excellent maternity units across the country and I want to see them maintained.

"One can't deny that there is a lot of money going into the NHS but there are too many targets and micro-management at Whitehall and the money is not necessarily reaching the front line."

Returning on the coach that was provided free of charge by Andybus & Coach Ltd, of Easton Grey, near Malmesbury, campaigners said the day had been a morale boosting event.

Malmesbury midwife Kathy Silvanus said: "It was good to come to London and see that we are not fighting the campaign on our own and knowing we have the support of MPs is good."