Pembrokeshire's health watchdog has bared its teeth after its national body attacked the consultants leading the Save Withybush Hospital campaign.

The Board of Community Health Councils accused the Pembrokeshire doctors who appeared on the BBC TV Dragon's Eye programme of 'blatant self-interest'.

But the Board has now come under fire from Pembroke-shire Community Health Council.

Chief executive Ashley Warlow said: "I and my members are extremely concerned at the comments made by the Wales Board regarding the consultants who are fighting for the preservation of local services.

"I would like to personally apologise for any offence and distress that has been caused by these comments."

"We would totally distance ourselves from these observations being made from afar in Cardiff. We are not subservient to this Board and believe it made an error of judgement in making this criticism."

He added: "We do not need such external interference in our local health affairs, particularly by those who have little real knowledge of our special circumstances in Pembroke-shire.

"Indeed I wonder how many of those making such bold assertions have actually visited rural west Wales."

"We have now expressed our dismay to the director of the Wales Board and will raise it formally at the next meeting."

Consultant gynaecologist Chris Overton, a leading campaigner against the downgrading of services at Withybush Hospital, accused some of the Board members of being 'puppets' of the Welsh Assembly.

"It took a great deal of guts for my colleagues to stand up in front of the TV cameras. There was no personal gain for them.

"The only self-interest we could possibly have is the fact that we want to continue working within Withybush providing services for the people of Pembrokeshire."