The health board says it is not feasible to maintain the unit

The closure move was made on a majority vote by the Greater Glasgow Health Board, despite warnings from staff and the public that lives could be lost.

The march to the hospital itself started at Clydebank Town Hall.

Experts recommended closure because it was seen as no longer feasible to have three maternity hospitals in Glasgow.

The protest walk began at 1030 BST and headed via Dumbarton Road to reach the Queen Mother's Hospital at about 1400 BST.

Organisers, The People's Voice, said it wanted everyone who cared about the hospital to join in either at the assembly point or anywhere en route.

They said the purpose of the march was to:

• ensure the Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm listened to those who had signed petitions, attended meetings and demonstrated against the decision to close the hospital

• leaflet the public along the route urging them to write to Mr Chisholm voicing their objections

• and to symbolically show the connection of Clydebank to Glasgow, both of which come under the Greater Glasgow NHS Board catchment area.

But the Greater Glasgow Health Board believes that by concentrating maternity services at the Southern General Hospital, mothers would benefit from the specialist treatment available there.

The plans to close the Queen Mother's Hospital has been submitted to Mr Chisholm, who has the final say.