Jane Hutt was greeted by protesters as she arrived in Llanelli

Assembly minister Jane Hutt told health service campaigners the trust should have been more open about its plans to close the A&E department at Prince Philip Hospital.

On a visit to Llanelli on Thursday she was greeted by protesters angry that the department has been closed overnight to non-999 emergencies since September.

Victor Clark from Felinfoel told the minister it had cost him �75 for three trips by taxi to the casualty unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea over the last six weeks.

Attempts had been made to recruit more staff but greater efforts might have been expected Jane Hutt

"I'm on income capacity benefit and that's a big whack of my income," he said.

Ms Hutt said the local health board was looking into different options for running the casualty department and would shortly be making recommendations.

But she revealed an assembly report into events leading up to September's decision had found the trust wanting.

"Crucial discussions might have been better had they taken place during a public session," she said.

"The trust's difficulties were not shared widely enough in the run up to its decision and, once the decision had been made, it did not explain its position convincingly enough to the wider public."

Victor Clark challenged Jane Hutt over the closure

But she said health service managers had acted within their powers to close the unit after receiving advice from senior doctors that there was a lack of qualified staff to run the department.

"Attempts had been made to recruit more staff but greater efforts might have been expected," she added.

Campaigners claim to have collected nearly 20,000 signatures for a petition calling for the reinstatement of the night time casualty provision.

But only about a dozen turned out for Ms Hutt's visit on Thursday and organiser Geraint Hopkins said he was disappointed with the turn-out.

"There is strong opposition which is not reflected in the numbers here," he said.

"We will continue the campaign until the A&E is back open 24 hours a day."

A spokesman for Carmarthenshire NHS Trust said: "We recognise that the need for immediate action to safeguard patient safety may have compromised communication and consultation.