A "SAVE the Alex" banner will adorn the front of the Redditch Council House building in a mark of solidarity to the ongoing hospital campaign.

Members of the council unanimously agreed to continue their support for the fight to stop the Alex from being downgraded, at a meeting on Monday night.

The proposal was put forward by Councillor Albert Wharrad who recommended the council wrote to the Worcestershire Acute Trust Board expressing its "total opposition" to the proposed loss of services. Leaders from all parties will sign the letter.

Residents are also being encouraged to continue their letters to the trust board and were praised for their ongoing support for the campaign.

Mr Wharrad stressed to townspeople: "Only by keeping up pressure on the trust board can we succeed in this vitally important battle."

Posters declaring the council's opposition to the possible service downgrade will be displayed in all local authority buildings and where ballot boxes were placed during the recent opinion poll.

Members also agreed the council would make a small grant of about £200 to the savethealex pressure group to help it continue its work.

Conservative leader Councillor Carole Gandy added: "The battle is far from over and it won't be over until we can safeguard some, if not all of these services."