A bus-load of people will be heading down to Powys Teaching Health Board's headquarters next week to hand in a petition opposing the proposed downgrade of Llanidloes Hospital.

More than 2,500 people signed the petition which called on PTHB not to downgrade services current available in Llanidloes hospital, which would be designated as 'Ready to Go Home' units.

READ MORE | 700 responses to Powys Teaching Health Board hospital plans

Llanidloes county councillor Glyn Preston said: "Our opposition has been made clear, but we need to get a big group of people down to show the health board we mean business."

Celtic Travel is giving people free use of their coach which will be leaving Llanidloes' Gro car park at 10am on Wednesday (October 9). The petition is expected to be handed over at PTHB's headquarters in Bronllys, near Brecon at midday.

It comes the day before the health board meets, with an agenda item suggesting the plans are set to be ratified despite the vocal opposition of local communities in Powys.

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Last week, the petition was presented by Cllr Preston and "driving force" behind the petition Jill O'Connor to patient representative body Llais at their meeting in Llandrindod Wells last week which Llanidloes Town Council described as a "truly momentous day".

The council added: "PTHB can be in no doubt that their plans for the downgrade of our hospital are not acceptable to the people of Llanidloes."

Anyone who would like to travel to Bronllys is asked to contact Cllr Preston on 07398 951409, Facebook or by sending an email to cllr.glyn.preston@powys.gov.uk.