Talks over maternity closure plans

The measure is being blamed on a shortage of midwives

An emergency meeting has been called to discuss plans to temporarily close Oswestry's maternity unit.

The unit at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital is due to shut for six months from October because so many midwives are on maternity leave.

The move would force women to travel to Shrewsbury or Wrexham to give birth and has caused widespread anger.

The leader of Oswestry Borough Council, Betty Gull, has organised a special cabinet meeting for Monday to discuss how to deal with the issue.

The authority wants representatives of the hospital to attend the talks to explain their plans.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson is lending his support to the campaign to keep the unit open.