THE battle may be won to re-open a birthing centre used by generations of expectant mums from Haslemere, Fernhurst, Grayshott and Liphook, but the war is still on to ensure it stays that way.

The Grange maternity unit, at Petersfield Hospital, was closed suddenly in September and its midwives relocated to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham because of a baby boom in the Portsmouth area.

With promises that the unit will definitely reopen as planned on January 9, the pressure is now on to safeguard its long-term future.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.