PLANS to move a hospital unit for leukaemia patients from Darlington to Bishop Auckland are being opposed by angry fundraisers.

Volunteers raised nearly £300,000 during the late 1980s for the haematology unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital, so cancer sufferers in the town would not have to travel to Newcastle for overnight treatment.

But bosses at County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust now want to move the six-bed inpatient unit to Bishop Auckland and merge it with the six-bed inpatient unit there.

The change has been recommended by some doctors and nurses, although the unit's consultant haematologist, Dr Peter Williamson, is against it.

He said he would prefer the inpatient unit to stay at the Memorial, close to other acute services such as gynaecology and the ear, nose and throat department.

"There is a need to have the inpatient unit on one site," he said. "But there are fairly convincing arguments for putting it in Darlington, rather than Bishop Auckland."

Liz Metcalfe, a member of the fundraising committee, said they would fight the proposals. "The whole of Darlington and the Dales raised the money for this unit. Everybody did it and now they are wanting to shift it. I think it's an absolute disgrace."

Joan Scotter, secretary of the fund, said: "We raised £290,000 in three years. That's why I'm really gutted to think all this is going to be in vain. We can't let it happen. A lot of people put a lot of hard work into it."

Kathy Botham, wife of former England cricketer Ian Botham has added her voice to the protest.

Mrs Botham of Ravensworth, North Yorkshire, whose husband is president of Leukaemia Research, said: "I did fight very long and hard with the group of people for Darlington Memorial Hospital. I'm quite taken aback at the news. If the consultant feels like that, then I would support him. He's the hands-on person."

A trust spokesman said: "A group of doctors and nurses from the trust has been looking at the future of haematology inpatient services. The majority have agreed in principle that these should in future be provided from Bishop Auckland General Hospital. All other forms of treatment such as outpatients and day cases will continue at both Darlington and Bishop Auckland."

He said the feasibility of the move would be assessed before a decision was made.