In just a month, more than 20,000 people have signed the petition to save Surrey's hospitals, bringing the total to more than 90,000 signatures.

The petition, organised by retired paramedic Ken Callanan, is gathering momentum as the reality of proposed cuts to health care across the county begins to sink in.

He hopes the figure will top 100,000 by the time the petition ends. He needs all forms to reach him by May 15 so he can present it at Downing Street at the end of May.

In his tireless campaign, Ken Callanan has visited more than 200 towns and villages in Surrey and over the borders into neighbouring counties whose residents rely on Surrey hospitals.

"I have no doubt at all, whether it is successful or not, the Surrey Petition is probably the most important petition our whole community will sign in their lifetime," he said.

"There is deep resentment and anger where the axe has already fallen and there is no doubt that the many people I met feel bitterly let down.

"It is being signed in huge numbers from areas that have already seen their A&E Centres or maternity services shut or downgraded such as the people served by the Ashford, and Epsom and St Helier hospitals."

The petition is available on google.co.uk or by emailing ken callanan@btinternet.com or by sending a SAE to 30 Ockford Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1QY.

The future of Epsom General Hospital is now in the hands of the Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) after Better Healthcare Closer to Home finally admitted that its plans for a new critical care hospital surrounded by a ring of local care centres is in tatters.

The PCT, which has indicated that it has no plans for keeping Epsom as a fully functioning general hospital, has still to publish its final proposals for the county followed by a period of public consultation.