Campaigners are fighting to keep vital health services in Bingley after the town's hospital is axed later this year.

Airedale NHS Trust is to close the Fernbank Drive hospital as part of a huge shake-up in services to try to address a £1.6 million shortfall.

The aim is to build a new one-stop health centre, which will house all of the town's GPs and other facilities, by December 2004.

But protesters fear patients will lose out in the interim period and they suggest one option is to revamp the present hospital building.

Campaigner Charlotte Summers said it was essential people in the town did not suffer once the hospital closed.

"I've lived in Bingley since 1952 and in that time I've seen a lot of things disappear from the town," said the 62-year-old. ''Keeping services local is our prime aim and once the hospital closes we fear services may wither away and could be lost.

"We want assurances there will be some form of temporary clinics before the building closes."

The 112-year-old building, built as a cottage hospital, has 70 patients a day in the physiotherapy department, a day hospital, catering mainly for the elderly, and outpatients clinics.

"If people have to travel out of town to appointments at Airedale Hospital it could take them more than an hour to get there by bus and that's the last thing you want to do when you're not well," said Mrs Summers of Eldwick.

"The population in the Bingley area is continuing to increase and the percentage of elderly people needing services will also increase, so we need to make sure we have the right services available for them.

"We realise the hospital is out of date but maybe one option would be to renovate the present site."

The hospital was to close this month but this was delayed and a new date has yet to be announced.

The petition is available to sign at a number of venues, including Copy Quick, in Park Road; Mario's, in Queen Court; Darren Todd's, in Chapel Lane; Jet petrol station, in Keighley Road and Cardigan House, in Ferncliffe Road. They will also be taking the petition to Bingley's villages.

Councillor Colin Gill (Cons, Bingley) said it was important people in the town were given the chance to comment on any service changes.

"We want to see detailed proposals about what they're going to be providing and what the improvements will be, if any," he said.

"I fully support this campaign and it's essential everyone knows what's going on before changes are carried out."

A site for a new health centre has not yet been revealed and the Telegraph & Argus reported in November last year that the Airedale Primary Care Trust was keen to hear from anyone who knew of possible sites.