Thousnds of people marched through the streets of Eastbourne to send a clear message to health bosses - hands off our hospitals.

Defenders of Eastbourne District General joined forces with those of the Conquest Hospital, St Leonards for the demonstration today.

Traffic was held up as the 5,000-strong crowd, stewarded by police officers and 50 volunteer marshalls, moved from the pier to the town hall.

Among them were generations of women who gave birth at the two hospitals, as well as families, children and pensioners who have been treated there.

People carried banners saying: "Hands off maternity units", "Save the DGH", "Hands off the Conquest" and "Mothers and babies will die", while marching to music from the Expedient Brass Band and the Eastbourne Scottish Pipe Band.

Protesters then rallied outside the town hall to hear speeches by campaign leaders, GPs, consultants and MPs. Also present was the Bishop of Lewes, Wallace Benn.

East Sussex Downs and Weald and Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trusts are due to announce next month which maternity service they plan to downgrade.

A previous proposal to close an A&E department has been abandoned.

Eastbourne GP Dr John Clarke said in other parts of the country losing a maternity ward has heralded the beginning of a hospital's decline. He said: "If we lose the maternity, we lose the special care baby unit, the paediatrics, then we lose anaesthetists, ear nose and throat, and Eastbourne and Hastings will end up very much as downgraded cottage hospitals."

All GPs in Eastbourne have signed a letter expressing their concern. Hastings GP Dr Hugh Nicholson said the feeling in Hastings is much the same.

Retired obstetrician Dr Vincent Argent warned that babies' lives could be put at risk if mothers are forced to travel 30 minutes to give birth.

Eastbourne Mayor Mary Pooley said: "It is wonderful to see such a turnout. I am a mother of seven children. I have 11 grandchildren, so I well and truly understand the stress and worries there can be in child birth.

"We don't need our mothers and babies put at any risk."

Liz Walke, chairwoman of the Save the DGH campaign, said: "This gives us a mandate to speak to the health bosses and say, we will not accept losing any of our core services."

Nigel Waterson, MP for Eastbourne, said: "We are showing them that we mean business. We are going to win this thing."

He said Health Secretary Alan Johnson said in a radio interview that 20 miles was too far to go for maternity services. Mr Waterson said: "It is about safety, protecting the lives of mothers and babies. If Alan Johnson agrees with that, let's go home and drop this ridiculous proposal."

Greg Barker, MP for Bexhill and Battle, said: "The health service has got to change and they have got to start listening to local people and start listening to what they want in their area."

Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, said: "The cross-party message is: this hospital has to stay where it is with the amount of services it has at this present time.

"Those who are saying it doesn't are those who are unelected in the primary care trusts and elsewhere. My message to them is: it is our hospital, not your, take your hands off and leave it alone."