BOLTON has launches its fight for a hospital super centre for new babies and children to be developed in the town.

And the Bolton Evening News is calling on readers to back the campaign.

If the town is chosen, it will mean millions of pounds will be invested in the Royal Bolton Hospital's maternity unit. Maternity services, special care baby wards and care for children being treated at the hospital will all be expanded.

But if the super centre is developed elsewhere, Bolton will be left only with a maternity unit for normal births.

Its neonatal unit for sick babies will close and critically ill children will be transferred elsewhere.

Our campaign has been given the backing of Bolton MP, Ruth Kelly, who gave birth to two of her four children at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The Royal Bolton Hospital is one of four hospitals being considered for a baby and children super centre in the Greater Manchester region.

But only three centres will be developed.

It is vital Bolton does not miss out.

We have launched our Back the Baby Unit campaign to show health authorities the strength of the support for the Royal Bolton Hospital.

During a visit to the hospital's maternity ward on Friday, Ruth Kelly, whose daughters Roisian and Sinead were born there, said: "My experience was absolutely fantastic. The staff were really committed and the hospital has a high reputation, deservedly so.

"I urge everyone in Bolton to back the bid for the super centre.

"I think it's the strongest bid and will serve people in Greater Manchester very well."

A public consultation exercise is now is under way to determine which of the hospitals will become super centres for babies and childrens.

The good news is that the Royal Bolton Hospital is shortlisted as the preferred option.

But the decision in its favour cannot be taken for granted and the Evening News is calling on members of the public to fill in a coupon on Page 29 of tonight's Bolton Evening News to back the campaign.

The hospital's maternity chiefs are appealing to local people to join the fight..

Dr Peter Powell, consultant paediatrician and associate medical director for women and children's services at the hospital, said: "It isn"t a done deal and depends very much on public support.

"It's a solution that's not only good for Bolton, but for the region as a whole. I can"t emphasise how important it is for people to respond to the consultation because our services will stand or fall on that."

Head of midwifery and divisional manager for children's services, Gail Naylor, said: "It's crucially important people respond. One of the risks for Bolton is people will think services will be fine because we"re the preferred option.

"It's important to remember these are only options and the outcome of the public consultation could change them."

The public consultation will run until April 13 after which representatives from the 17 Primary Care Trusts affected by the changes will decide which hospitals will become maternity super-centres.

The £31 million plans are part of a shake-up of maternity services in Greater Manchester, East Cheshire, High Peak in Derbyshire and South Lancashire and will revolutionalise baby care in the region.