A campaign to save a Midland hospital from closure was given a boost by 15 runners and riders and more than 1,500 spectators at a Shropshire racecourse yesterday.

An unusually large crowd gathered for the 3.30pm Save Ludlow Community Hospital Handicap Steeplechase at Ludlow Racecourse.

Ludlow Hospital is one of three cottage hospitals in the county under threat after Shropshire's health services said they were more than #30 million in debt. League of Friends' volunteers took a collection during the sixth race of the day to help fund the campaign to save the town's hospital.

Boardroom Dancer romped home to a convincing win, with Cool Song in second - both trained by Sussex-based Suzy Smith - and Merry Storm finishing third, trained by Karen Waldron, of Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

Bob Davies, clerk of the course, said: "We had a lot of support from the crowd. We decided to support this campaign as it's important communities like Ludlow retain essential facilities like the community hospital.

"We need to keep it open because there's never any spare beds in the bigger hospitals in Shrewsbury, Telford or even Hereford."