The Government has spent more than £5 billion on the illegal and unwinnable war for oil in Iraq, enough to pay for 50 new hospitals. The Pennine Acute Trust is threatening to close the Rehabilitation Ward 30, caring for the elderly at Fairfield hospital, as part of its bid to tackle debts of more than £28 million.

On Saturday, in an hour-and-a-half, Bury Stop the War Coalition collected 160 signatures demanding that Ward 30 be kept open. As one teenager who signed put it: "This is an outrage." Surely it is the majority view in Bury and indeed in the country as a whole? Clearly if we are to provide properly for the elderly of Bury we will have to act and support the planned demonstration proposed by the Bury Pensioners Association demanding Ward 30 be kept open.

GEOFF BROWN, Secretary, Bury Stop the War Coalition