THOUSANDS of mums-to-be across Hampshire got the news they have been dreading on the future of three vital birthing centres in the region.

After months of public consultations, relentless campaigning and the collection of thousands of signatures the recommendation to close Hythe, Romsey and Lymington Birth Centres has been made.

The services will now transfer to a stand-alone facility at Snowden House in Ashurst, the option recommended by the Southampton University Hospitals Trust board (SUHT) yesterday.

The news came as a blow to the thousands of families who campaigned to save their midwife-led birthing centres.

Joanne Lunn, one of the campaigners who hoped to save Lymington Birth Centre, said: "We are very disappointed that the board have taken this decision as we collected thousands of signatures on our petitions.

"We feel that the views of the general public have not been taken in to account and we will be holding an emergency meeting to discuss our next move.

"This is a real shame for women who want to give birth within their local community. This area of the New Forest is still quite a way from Ashurst and it will be a long journey for expectant mums and their families to make."

Alison Jones, who campaigned to keep Romsey Birthing Centre open, said she was "appalled, but not surprised" by the decision.

"I had the most fantastic care there and to lose those services is dreadful. It's a huge shame for local services, families and women generally," she said.

"All along the preferred option was to go with Ashurst. I got the impression that maintaining the status quo wasn't an option they had looked into.

"SUHT put in a lot of effort in setting up meetings and talking to people, but from the responses I've seen I don't think there was genuine consideration given to keeping Romsey open."

The closure of the three centres will result in the loss of seven beds overall but SUHT say the facility at Ashurst is much nicer and will be much safer in the long run.

Karen Baker, divisional director of operations for women and children's services at SUHT, said: "We are really delighted with this decision as I think Ashurst is the perfect site for a birthing centre. It has got single rooms for women, birthing pools on site, its got good access and its set in beautiful grounds in the New Forest."

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust took the decision to relocate its birth centres on to one site only after a three-month consultation which started in August this year.

This was prompted by a review of Southampton maternity services, which began in May 2005 after a rising birth rate prompted concerns over future safety.

The Trust claimed all three birthing centres were running below full capacity.

The date of the impending closures and the relocation of services will be discussed at the Hampshire County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting next Tuesday.