TV star Richard Whiteley has joined the campaign to save llkley's Coronation Hospital

and he signed the petition at the Ilkley Gazette office.

Meanwhile town leaders campaigning to save the Coronation Hospital say they cannot act until firm plans are reached.

While the petition to keep the hospital's services on the current site is growing by the day - with thousands of signatures now on paper - those leading the campaign say it is up to health bosses to make the next move.

Airedale NHS Trust and the Airedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) are still examining the provision of health services in Ilkley, at the Bingley Hospital and at Airedale General Hospital, before announcing their intentions for the future of the Coronation Hospital.

Chairman of Ilkley Parish Council, Mike Gibbons, said the town's campaign group is continuing to promote its petition, and seeking more

information on the services under scrutiny.

He said: "I would say that as and when the proposals come forward, we will be ready to fight in any way we need to. We're going to monitor the situation and seek to discover what their proposals are."

"The problem at the minute is we're still waiting for some proposals from Bob Allen's end. It's very difficult to specifically fight them on an issue if they haven't announced it yet. It's very frustrating, really."

Mr Allen, the chief executive of Airedale NHS Trust, last week told the Ilkley Gazette that more concrete plans for the hospital's future could be reached by the end of September.

Coun Gibbons said members of the campaign group are continuing to press for information on the intentions of the two trusts, so the group can gear up to fight any loss of services.

The petition is expected to be handed over when the plans for the Coronation Hospital's future is known.

Former parish councillor Barbara Cussons recently called for volunteers on every street, in a bid to get the petition signed by as much of the population of Ilkley, Burley and Menston as possible.

Anyone who can help with the petition, can contact the parish clerk, Miggy Bailey, at Ilkley Town Hall, or by calling (01943) 436212. Copies of the petition are available to sign at the Ilkley Gazette office, 8 Wells Road, Ilkley.