They handed a 50,000-name petition into 10 Downing Street calling for the the King Edward VII hospital at Midhurst, Sussex, to be preserved.

The hospital, which is run as a charity, treats about 1,200 patients a year.

However, it has now appointed a liquidator after running into serious money problems.

Andrew Turner: Closure "no good"

Supporters and healthcare staff travelled to London on Tuesday to demonstrate against the hospital's closure - which would result in 400 job losses.

Isle of Wight MP Andrew Turner, who was with the protesters in the capital, said closure of the hospital would have a massive effect on cancer, cardiac and orthopaedic treatment across the south of England.

He said: "In cardiac surgery alone there are 400 opportunities for treatment each year at Midhurst - if it closes people will have to wait longer and be forced to go as far afield as Tooting and Oxford for treatment.

"It's no good for people in the South East and especially on the Isle of Wight."