A petition of more than 10,000 signatures, gathered by the Clacton Gazette, has helped save a mental health ward at its local hospital from closure.

Editor James Wills said: "Health chiefs were looking to close the ward to save money and centralise services out of the area.

"However, almost everyone on the town knows someone who has received support at the ward and our campaign was a phenomenal success.

"To get more than 10,000 signatures in just a few weeks proved to health chiefs the strength of local opinion, and we backed this up with support from doctors, politicians and other health service professionals.

"The boards of health trusts are appointed in Whitehall and largely unaccountable, the Government says such closure decisions are out of its hands as it has passed responsibility onto such trusts and so it is vital local papers play a central role in ensuring the views of local communities are strongly reflected in its papers."