CAMPAIGNERS who fought to save Stroud Maternity Hospital from the axe have expressed their joy that the unit is booming, with births up nine per cent from last year.

Last summer, the unit was threatened with closure as part of an NHS attempt to save £40 million.

But following a huge public campaign supported by the SNJ, health chiefs withdrew their plans to axe the hospital.

Now, the hospital is booming with 337 babies born on-site this year and 55 planned homes deliveries, compared to 314 births at the hospital last year and 51 at home.

David Miller, chairman of the League of Friends of Stroud Hospital, said he was delighted by the news.

"We are very pleased indeed that the great concern of the community is in fact well justified by these figures," he said.

"We have a very fine midwife-led unit here and we are glad that the numbers are up."

Former SNJ photographer Kirstie Trueman, 31, is one of the new mums who has contributed to this year's success.

Her son Oliver Michael was born at the unit at 3.15am on Saturday after a 22-hour labour, weighing 8lb 4oz.

"The ward was really busy. It was full to the brim.," said Kirstie, of Chalford Hill.

"The midwives are fantastic there. The support we had was second to none.

"I was born in Stroud and my sister was as well. I think it's such a nice atmosphere there. I didn't want to be part of a big hospital unless I had to be.

"The fact that they were threatening to close it last year was pretty horrendous because it's a valuable place for Stroud and the locals have supported it so much. Everyone got behind the campaign."