A CLACTON councillor is urging people to join a march to protest against maternity unit closures tomorrow.

Health bosses announced the shock temporary closure of baby units in Clacton and Harwich last week.

A march against the cuts will take place in Harwich tomorrow from 10am.

Councillor Danny Mayzes accused the NHS of "gambling with people's lives" and urged campaigners from Clacton to turn out in force.

The Rush Green councillor is joining the march with colleague Chris Griffiths.

“This is a massive thing for Clacton and Harwich at the moment and the towns' local healthcare services are once again at risk – this time in the form of maternity services," said Mr Mayzes.

He said the Colchester-based health trust "needs to see people’s indignation".

“Everybody understands that cuts need to be made in order to comply with those ever tightening purse strings, but closing two maternity units in their entirety, especially when that is 100 per cent of a whole district’s units is, frankly, a step too far and leaves Tendring and our mums-to-be in a difficult and potentially life-threatening position," said Mr Mayzes.

He added: “Just because this is taking place in Harwich, I still expect people to turn up from Clacton and all over Tendring to show that we ‘Support Our Baby Services’."

The march starts at Cliff Park and will end at the Fryatt Hospital.

Save Our Baby Services campaign posters are available from the Gazette's offices in Jackson Road, Clacton.