A giant procession filled the streets of Chichester to protest against the possible downgrading of a hospital.

About 4,000 residents of Chichester, Bognor and surrounding villages joined the throng to support St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, which could lose its emergency and maternity units.

Waving placards such as "Don't Get Sick if No St Dick's", "Stop This Madness" and "Life Has More Value Than Money", the crowd walked in an orderly procession from car parks at Northgate and East Pallant, led by a samba drum and local MPs, to Cathedral Green.

Some people chanted "Save St Richard's. No Closure" and booed any mention of the Strategic Health Authority whose report has threatened local health services.

Several demonstrators wore tops which were adorned with personal stories of how the hospital had saved the lives of people close to them.

Lucy Parker, 25, from Westbourne, wore a T-shirt saying: "My six-day-old baby stopped breathing. Thanks to quick response from Chichester A&E, they saved her life."

Keith Allison, from Chichester, had a sign attached to his wheelchair reading: "St Richards A&E saved my life. Keep it alive."

His wife, Tania, said: "He had a heart attack in February in town and we went to the hospital and within ten minutes he was being seen. He went on to have a massive heart attack. If there had been any delay he might not have survived."

Staff from the hospital joined the demonstration.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: "At least 80 of us will lose our jobs."

The march was orchestrated by Chichester MP Andrew Tyrie who was joined on a stage at the green by a senior clinician from the hospital, a local GP, other MPs from surrounding areas, the cathedral's dean, and actor Christopher Timothy from the BBC soap, Doctors, who lives in the town.

Mr Tyrie said he was continuing to lobby the Government and Strategic Health Authority to save local services. He said: "We can kick up an almighty stink and use rational argument to show it costs more to provide health care in other ways than it does in this way."

Clinician Marjorie Greig said: "It's a great hospital, we've had prizes for it being a great hospital. Only the NHS would do something as ludicrous as threaten the top hospital in the area."

Mr Timothy said: "Commitment has got to be the most important thing because unless the decision's already been made, our words can have and will have an effect."

Actress Patricia Routledge, from Keeping Up Appearances, attended the demo to support the campaign.

She said: "It's a wonderful turnout. The quality of services at the hospital is first rate.

"I've had an association with the place since 1969. Now the whole area's developing and young families are coming down and it's absolutely essential that we keep this here."

Jon Ansell, from Bognor, a singer with the opera group G4, also lent his support.