Residents fear the hospital's services are being downgraded permanently

Campaigners are angry at plans to shut the Accident and Emergency Department, at Prince Philip Hospital, in Llanelli, each evening.

They held their protest outside the hospital, which will shut its casualty unit from 2000 BST every night from Monday 1 September.

Hospital managers say a chronic shortage of medical staff has led to the cuts, despite desperate attempts to recruit doctors from abroad.

But protesters are concerned that having to travel to hospitals in Swansea or Carmarthen could cost lives.

They have organised petitions and protests in a bid to stop the unit being downgraded.

We have struggled for some time to keep the department open on a day-to-day basis. Carmarthenshire NHS Trust

Prince Philip has already lost maternity, eye surgery and paediatric services.

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said the casualty service change was temporary and it hoped to minimize the effect on patients.

It stressed that the vast majority of 999 emergencies or emergency admissions arranged by GPs would still go to Prince Philip regardless of the time.

In a statement, the trust board said they had tried to fill the five vacant posts, but the continued use of locum, or hired, doctors could not carry on.

"Despite our best efforts, the department's middle-grade establishment is currently staffed entirely by locum staff and we have struggled for some time to keep the department open on a day-to-day basis.

Overnight casualty treatment will end at Prince Philip Hospital on Monday

"This is regarded by our senior clinical staff to be unsafe and unsustainable.

"We are determined to provide an appropriate 24-hour service at Prince Philip Hospital as soon as possible.

"The trust is working closely with the Carmarthenshire Local Health Board, Ambulance Service, neighbouring hospitals and the Community Health Council to find safe and acceptable solutions for the future provision of A & E Services at Prince Philip Hospital."

The Commission for Health Improvement said last month that accident and emergency services were being "compromised" by a lack of staff.

Arrangements have been in place for some time for some badly injured patients to receive treatment at Morriston Hospital in Swansea or West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen.

The trust said patients with any concerns should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, who would advise whether they should attend an accident and emergency department.