The Westmorland Gazette has again lent its support to a campaigning march against cuts at a local hospital.

For the second time this year the Gazette produced posters for thousands of marchers to carry during their protest on the streets of Kendal.

Newspaper sales manager Cath Crawshaw organised the production of 2,000 colour posters which were available for people to collect before the march, and also distributed on the day.

Gazette health reporter Michaela Robinson-Tate (pictured) was also on hand to cover the event for the paper.

An estimated 5,000 people made their way up the town’s main street in protest against cuts at Westmorland General Hospital.

The turnout was considered to be particularly impressive because of the torrential rain which left the marchers soaked.

Campaigners were protesting against the cuts, which would mean that patients from rural areas with conditions like heart attacks and strokes would no longer be treated in Kendal, but would be transported 20 miles further on to Lancaster.

They fear the move would put lives at risk.

In January, the Gazette produced a four-page in paper special, including a full-page poster, in advance of a march against the proposed closure of two wards for people with mental health problems at the hospital. One of the wards was later granted a reprieve.