THE future of maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury will hang in the balance until July.

Despite petitions signed by more than 10,000 people to save the two units, the trust said it needs to make savings in maternity as it is costly to run.

The health trust said it will not publish any proposals for maternity services until July because it needs to assess the situation further.

It said it is responding to the huge public outcry in the two towns and insists it has not made any decisions.

More than 500 people joined a protest march in Devizes in February to deliver the petitions to the trust at its headquarters in Devizes.

Trust chief executive Barbara Smith said: "We want to explore the viability of expanding the maternity service so more people can access the service.

"I believe we have listened to what people have said about maternity services and we are going away to do some more work."

This work will consist of a survey with local women to see if more women would want to use Devizes, Malmesbury or Chippenham maternity units.

The trust has been told that women living in rural areas are not often aware of the maternity units in Devizes or Malmesbury.

Proposals on the future of the two units and the maternity unit at Chippenham Hospital will be published in July, followed by public consultation but a decision will not be made until later this year.

However, despite the popularity of Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units, the trust maintains the service is expensive to run and to make it cost-effective it needs to be used by more women.

Mrs Smith said: "We have to make savings on maternity somewhere along the line.

"That is why we want to explore the potential to expand the midwife led community hospital service."

Campaigners remain fearful that Devizes or Malmesbury maternity units, or even both, could be axed.

Mothers and National Childbirth Trust members are launching a campaign to let women who live outside the immediate area know about the two units.

Mother-of-three Michelle Crudge, of Downs Close, Devizes, said: "The trust should keep Devizes Maternity Unit open as it provides excellent care.

"The trust should lobby the Government for more money to pay for health services."

Emma Webb, 25, of Devizes, said: "I still think the trust is going to shut Devizes Maternity Unit. I am going to continue to fight to keep it open for myself and other women.

"It is so badly needed as it takes the pressure off the big hospitals in Swindon and Bath."