Women who are currently pregnant will not be affected

Plans to move consultant-led maternity services to Calderdale Royal Hospital sparked controversy earlier this year.

A petition against the decision, by the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, was signed by more than 40,000 people and led to an appeal.

But Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has ruled the plan can go ahead.

GP Jackie Grunsell founded the Save Huddersfield NHS campaign.

She said protesters would continue their fight to keep maternity services in Huddersfield despite the health secretary's decision.

'Extremely angry'

Dr Grunsell, who is also a Kirklees councillor, said she was not surprised by the decision but was "extremely angry".

Martyn Pritchard, chief executive of Calderdale Primary Care Trust, said moving all consultant-led maternity services to Halifax, which is eight miles away, would secure high quality, safe, clinical services for local people.

He said there would not be any changes to the delivery plans for women who are currently pregnant.

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary will still have a midwife-led maternity unit for mothers who do not require specialist services.

The NHS trust said it was excited about turning that into a high-quality unit the town could be proud of.