Campaigners take our petition to Parliament

They will be handing over the Gazette's petition, which already contains more than 4,000 names, to the Under Secretary of State for Health, Dr Stephen Ladyman, and urging him to step in to save the units.

The campaigners will also meet local MPs James Gray and Michael Ancram, who have backed the fight to halt the closures proposed by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

Gazette editor Gary Lawrence said: "This is a culmination of a year-long fight and we want to let the Government know what the people of Wiltshire think."

Campaigners will be transported to London by coach firm operators Andy and Helen James, who both have the Malmesbury Maternity Unit close to their hearts.

Mr James was born at Malmesbury Hospital and Mrs James spent five days there for post natal care with their first child Amelia, now two.

The couple, who own Andybus and Coach Ltd in Easton Grey, near Malmesbury, are providing a free 51-seat coach to take campaigners to the Commons.

Mrs James had her ante natal care at the Malmesbury unit and wanted to give birth there but due to a muscle complaint she had to have a Caesarean section at Bath's Royal United Hospital. The birth went well but a few hours afterwards Mrs James developed a blood clot in her calf and was unable to walk.

After being moved from the Caesarean ward to a normal ward for new mothers, Mrs James had crutches but still found it difficult getting about and was given morphine for the pain she was in.

She was unable to care for her baby like the other mothers on the ward and two days later baby Amelia developed jaundice.

Mrs James said: "I couldn't get to Amelia most of the time. I tried to breastfeed her but she wouldn't take to it.

"One time when I managed to get her out of the cot to feed her I couldn't get her back into it because of my condition. I rang for help and 40 minutes later someone came to help me.

"On the ward at the Royal United Hospital they show you where the bottles are and let you get on with it. There was a caf at the end of the ward where you had to go to get your food and drinks.

"I could just about manage to get on my feet using the crutches but I could not push Amelia in her cot as well so I wasn't able to get to the caf. I had to ask other mothers to get me some toast and a cup of tea.

"At the Royal United I was a number, it was a horrendous experience."

Mrs James arrived at Malmesbury five days later and she said there was a marked difference in the way the maternity units were run. "Malmesbury was fantastic, it was like coming home. The staff were able to spend time with me and the care Amelia and I received was excellent.

"Every woman should be offered the opportunity of going to a midwife-led unit like Malmesbury. Even if women have to give birth at the Royal United they should be given the opportunity of returning for post natal care."

Mr James said: "It would be a great pity if Malmesbury Hospital was to close. We need to keep it and I glad to do my bit to help the campaign to save it and the maternity unit."

l Andybus Coach Ltd has bought a new coach which is available for hire to schools, companies and other groups. Company director Andy James said the new 57-seater coach would particularly benefit schools who take their pupils on excursions.

Mr James said: "Sometimes when schools have booked a coach to go on a trip they have had a few extra pupils so they have had to hire more than one coach. The 57-seater coach will help schools who have more pupils than can occupy a standard 53 seat coach."

The new coach is fitted with seat belts and has a DVD player.

As well as coaches the company runs bus services under contract to Wiltshire and Gloucestershire county councils and South Gloucestershire District Council. The company employs 17 people.

Mr James, who was born in Malmesbury, grew up in Sherston and went to Malmesbury School, set up his own company following his father, Derek, who owned the coach company James of Sherston.