AS names continue to flood in for a petition demanding the reopening of Wyre Forest Birth Centre, parents are being urged to make renewed efforts to make sure their views are heard.

After reading about "overwhelming" support for Elizabeth Bytheway's campaign to save the facility, in last week's Shuttle/Times & News, other passionate mums, Debbie Bakewell and Heather Budden, are appealing for people to have their say more formally by joining the Maternity Services Liaison Committee for Wyre Forest.

The committee, which includes heads of midwifery, doctors and health visitors, has already enlisted Mrs Bytheway's support this week - but needs more interested parents and grandparents with views on maternity services in the area.

Lay chair, Mrs Bakewell, who has four children under the age of eight, said the committee was hoping to build up as strong a user group as possible.

"Basically, the point is you have an opportunity to have a say directly to the people who are commissioning the services by being part of this group," said the 39-year-old Hartlebury resident.

"It's useful for us to have representatives from all sectors of the local community who are interested in maternity care, including women experiencing the service at the moment, because we need the health care professionals to understand what it's like to be on the receiving end of what's going on."

Kidderminster mum-of-two, Mrs Budden, added literature on the committee was given out to pregnant women when they registered with midwives but said they were experiencing difficulty recruiting new members.

"Everything that's being discussed comes through us as a recognised committee and we have a role in overseeing everything that happens, including ante-natal and post-natal care," she said.

"Obviously, there are women out there with strong views because they're doing things like signing petitions and it would just be nice if we could have them helping."

Anyone interested in attending the committee's next meeting, which starts at 6.30pm on Wednesday, should contact Mrs Bakewell on 01299 250206.