A campaign group has been officially formed to keep services at Maidstone Hospital.

The move comes as it was revealed that more services could be moved to the Kent and Sussex Hospital, in Tunbridge Wells.

MASH - Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital - was created at a public meeting at Maidstone Town Hall on Monday night.

It will define the services it wants to see retained at the hospital, campaign for no more to be lost and call for some services to be returned.

Former Tory group leader of Maidstone council, Cllr Eric Hotson (Con), will chair MASH and several Maidstone Hospital campaigners were elected to the group’s executive committee.

Dr Paul Hobday, chairman of the Maidstone Division of the BMA, which supports MASH, revealed that a third review into urology services at Maidstone Hospital had been launched.

Dr Hobday said: "The people of Maidstone are being treated with contempt and the trust thinks we are stupid."

Helen Grant, prospective Tory candidate for Maidstone and the Weald, who is also a member of the group, added: "My view is quite simple. The downgrading of services at Maidstone Hospital, which will include increased ambulance times will lead to fatalities."

Read more in this Friday's Kent Messenger.