BURY'S political leaders have thrown their combined weight behind the campaign to save Fairfield Hospital's maternity services.

And they cheered when residents handed over a mammoth petition of 38,000 signatures before the last council meeting.

All three parties backed a motion condemning proposals which could mean the closure of the Special Care Baby Unit under a shake-up of children's and maternity services across Greater Manchester.

They promised that the council would do all it could to save Fairfield services, including lobbying the Government, MPs and health bodies, and encouraged local people to mount a widespread public campaign.

The Tory motion was supported by Labour and the Liberal Democrats who said it was too serious an issue to leave to party politics.

Councillor Roy Walker said it was a test of Bury itself and how much influence it had, especially after losing Bury General and Florence Nightingale hospitals.

"Towns have been pitted against each other," he said. "I don't want to have to choose between Rochdale, Oldham, North Manchester and Bury.

"We all need hospital provision. Have we a Primary Care Trust, a council, and MPs who are strong enough to speak up for this area? Are we not big enough to deserve our own hospital?"