Hundreds of people are expected at a public meeting in Powys to hear about the future of NHS heart services in their area.

Local people fear that cardiac services may be moved elsewhere and have already begun a campaign to save the facility at a Brecon hospital.

Maternity services have already been cut

Doctors and members of a local action group say plans to move cardiac services further afield will put lives at risk and threaten the future of the hospital.

Maternity services were downgraded at the Brecon War Memorial Hospital more than a year ago in the face of widespread local protest.

Many mothers now have to travel 30 miles to Abergavenny to give birth.

The action group set up to fight the loss of the cardiac services says that it is vital for a rural area like south Powys to retain its own facility.

It claims a delay in treatment could be critical and could lead to lives being lost.

This is a vitally important issue Cllr Tony Bufton

The group has condemned proposals to transfer cardiac in-patient services from the hospital to Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, or to the new hospital at Hereford from next April.

Nevill Hall will open a new six-bed cardiac unit next March.

It serves Gwent and south Powys.

Mayor of Brecon, Councillor Tony Bufton, said: "This is a vitally important issue not only for the town but for a large part of Breconshire.

"If it is not resisted, it will mean the loss of an excellent service and the trained medical and nursing staff who provide it.

"We must not become a second-class community because we live in a rural area."

The action group is also worried that a further erosion of services could threaten the hospital's viability.

The Powys Health Trust said it has a duty to meet stringent professional safety regulations.