"I'm anxious that as many babies as possible continue to be born in Westmorland," South Cumbria Community Health Council member and county and district councillor Roger Bingham.

"As an MP I receive a lot of complaints about public services, and I have never once received a complaint about Helme Chase.

It's a wonderful facility.

Can we for once in this country build on success and not undermine it," MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Collins.

"It's got to be a long term commitment for this.

I would hate to see pregnant women from Grasmere etcetera having to travel to have their baby in either Furness or Lancaster," CHC member and district councillor Janette Jenkinson.

"I don't see the need for change at all.

We have a local service second to none in the country," member of the public speaking at the CHC-organised meeting about Helme Chase.

"I think I sat in a similar position not seven years ago, being told if we moved ourselves to Westmorland General this was what would secure our future, and yet seven years later we are sitting here discussing whether we are going to be a midwife-led unit, or even close altogether.

"I would just like to say I am sure we will be sitting here in another three or five years deciding whether it's a viable option to keep Helme Chase open," midwife Sally Sagar addressing the same CHC meeting.

"From a personal point of view I want to see after this consultation process a clear direction for a long-term future for Helme Chase," director of public health at Morecambe Bay Health Authority Dr Nick Gent.

"I just think it's absolutely amazing.

I have never seen anything like it," Royal College of Midwives regional officer Zandra Mathieson during Saturday's march.

"Why when we can provide these services locally in the 1940s, can't we provide them in the year 2001?" South Lakeland district councillor John Studholme, who was one of the first babies to be born in Helme Chase.