TROWBRIDGE Hospital will close and beds will be lost at Melksham Hospital under proposals to be agreed by health bosses next week.

But Chippenham and Warminster Hospitals are set to stay open but with reduced beds.

Cllr Jeff Osborn, who has been leading the fight to keep Trowbridge Hospital and its maternity unit open, said: "Naturally I'm disappointed. I'm pleased for campaigners in Warminster but the maternity unit in Trowbridge is the jewel in the crown of the local health service and we are losing it."

He added that he was also concerned about what would happen to the elderly patients who use the two wards available in Trowbridge.

Workers at all the community hospitals were briefed this morning by chiefs at Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

Warminster, Trowbridge and Devizes hospitals were proposed for closure under all three options in Pathways for Change while Melksham was set to stay open under two of the three options.

The board of Wiltshire Primary Care Trust will make the decision on the future of community hospitals at a meeting on Tuesday January 30 at 10am at Devizes Corn Exchange.

Bradford on Avon Hospital and part of Westbury Hospital have already closed in cost-cutting measures imposed by the old West Wiltshire PCT.