ANY lingering doubts about the strength of feeling over the future of Withybush Hospital were blown away on Tuesday.

Upwards of 150 Pembrokeshire protesters travelled to the new Senedd Welsh Assembly building to fight any proposed closure or downgrading of the hospital.

Earlier they had marched from Withybush to County Hall as passing motorists gave supporting blasts on horns.

Gathering in front of the Assembly, protesters held placards and banners, banged drums and sang songs.

Tony Miles, deputy mayor of Milford Haven, said: "I think it's terrific. If you look around, you see that the people of Pembrokeshire don't want closure or downgrading of Withybush.

We want it upgraded."

A delegation of protesters were invited to meet Assembly health officials to discuss concerns.

Save Withybush Action Team (Swat) member Cherie Harvey said: "We put a lot of questions to them and they assured us that our views would be taken on board.

"I think we have got our message over to the Welsh Assembly that we are not going anywhere. We are going to throw options one and two out and bring in option three, that's upgrade Withybush.

"We will keep fighting."

Cherie also managed to grab a brief chat with Assembly health minister Dr Brian Gibbons, the man likely to make the final decision on the fate of Withybush.

Meanwhile, campaigners continued their noisy, but peaceful, protest.

Plaid AM Helen Mary Jones rallied the troops with a rousing speech. "If we stick together we can get these options thrown out," she said.

Pembrokeshire AM Tamsin Dunwoody said: "The turnout is absolutely superb. It just reinforces the will of the people of Pembrokeshire."

Tamsin added: "Christine Gwyther and I will continue to lobby the minister behind the scenes to ensure he knows how important this issue is and also so that the third option is given a fair hearing."