A delegation from the protesters was allowed to address the meeting

It has been claimed that Tregaron hospital could close and services could also be cut at Cardigan hospital due to trust financial problems.

More than 200 attended a public meeting in Tregaron on Wednesday night.

The Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust and local health board said that they were looking at options for saving money but no decision had been taken.

It added that a full consultation period would be held before any decision was made on the future of Tregaron.

On Monday, Ceredigion AM Elin Jones claimed Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust faced a shortfall of �1.1m which threatened services at Cardigan hospital as well.

As the trust's board met in Tregaron to discuss health issues in Ceredigion, more than 100 people lobbied outside.

They included sixth-formers and pensioners.

Some protesters were allowed into the meeting to talk to trust members.

Tregaron hospital has 29 beds

Ceredigion NHS Trust and Ceredigion Local Health Board said that they were looking closely at a number of options how to save money and they expect to discuss the situation further in a meeting in a few weeks time.

Tregaron Hospital, which has 29 inpatient beds, provides nursing, rehabilitation, recuperation and palliative care and a range of community nursing services.

Cardigan Hospital has 25 beds and provides acute nursing care, rehabilitation and palliative care and also has a minor injury unit.

Earlier this year, the Welsh Assembly Government announced it would fund a new �7m building at Tregaron and �9m for a new facility at Cardigan.