COUNCILLORS protested last night after learning of proposals to close a day surgery unit at busy community hospital.

Derwentside District Council voted unanimously to pass a motion calling on the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to rethink its plans for the Shotley Bridge Hospital.

Council leader Alex Watson said that, despite assurances, councillors had learned the trust was considering closing the unit for a temporary period of six months as part of its spending cuts.

Councillor Watson said: "There has been no consultation about the closure of the unit. It is diabolical. They are talking of a temporary closure of six months, although we see it as the beginning of the end.

"People from the Derwentside and Consett areas are going to be forced to travel to hospitals in Bishop Auckland, Sunderland and Durham for treatment."

He said members had been told the matter was to be discussed at a confidential meeting at the end of the month.

Bosses at the cash-strapped hospital trust warned last month that spending cuts on temporary staff had to be speeded up. The trust is looking to shed 700 jobs over the next three years to adapt to changes in the NHS and reduce spending by £40m.

There was no one available for comment at the trust last night.