A meeting has been called to discuss fears of a permanent closure

The unit in Oswestry will be shutting its doors to expectant mothers in October for six months.

The closure comes because 22 of the unit's midwives have fallen pregnant.

The high number of pregnancies at the ward in Oswestry means expectant mums needing hospital care will have to travel to either Wrexham, Powys or Shrewsbury

The meeting in the town on Monday is expected to hear local concerns that the unit at Shropshire's Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital may not re-open because it is in need of modernisation.

Hospital bosses say they have tried to arrange cover for the maternity leave but failed because of a national shortage of trained nursing staff.

A full community midwife service will still operate along with other day and ante-natal services.