HUNDREDS of campaigners flooded the streets in protest over the sudden closure of two maternity units.

More than 350 people marched from Cliff Park in Dovercourt to the Fryatt Hospital to lobby against the decision by Colchester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to shut down maternity units in Harwich and Clacton two weeks ago.

Traffic came to a standstill as the community came together and organisers Jenny Semple and Helen Gardner were overwhelmed by the support.

Helen said: β€œIt is a very short-sighted decision to close the units and I get the feeling they thought it could be done without any backlash but this proves Harwich and Clacton are united to try and keep it open.”