The community hospital in Alston has 12 beds, but six of them are "blocked", meaning no new patients will admitted to them.

Locals have expressed fears that this is the first step towards the permanent closure of the hospital.

But officials say it is a temporary situation due to acute staff shortages.

David Maclean, MP for Penrith and the Border believes there are plans to pre-empt the review and close the hospital permanently.

'Safety grounds'

Mr Maclean said: "I am deeply concerned about what is going on, because I have been told that adverts which were drafted to replace staff at Alston hospital were not placed. They did not appear in the press.

"Then suddenly the Trust says 'you don't have enough qualified staff, on safety grounds we had better close you down'.

"Alston has always been under threat because people don't like the fact that it costs money to have a small hospital on top of the Pennines, and it's much more convenient to get rid of it and shove everyone into Penrith or Carlisle."

The North Cumbria Primary Care Trust said in a statement: "It is a prime responsibility of the PCT to ensure that patients are cared for safely on a consistent basis.

"Therefore, the situation is being urgently reviewed and a decision on whether the in-patient ward at Alston Hospital can be safely staffed will be made imminently.