Bicester’s MP and the town mayor will be taking to the streets to campaign for a new community hospital.

Last week hospital campaigner Les Sibley threw down the gauntlet to residents urging them to join a rally to show NHS Oxfordshire the importance of a new hospital in the town.

Campaigners want people to turn up with anything that will make a noise – such as vuvuzelas or whistles.

So far North Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry and mayor Richard Mould have signed up to the rally in Garth Park, Launton Road, on Saturday, July 17, at 10am.

Les Sibley, of Save Our Community Hospital campaign, said: “It’s fantastic news that town mayor Richard Mould and our local MP Tony Baldry are turning out on the day to give their full support for the campaign for a new hospital.

“I would urge anyone in the town who supports a new community hospital to turn out on the day.

“This is a real opportunity to persuade NHS Oxfordshire that the south west option is the best option for Bicester.”

Mr Baldry confirmed he would be at the rally.

He said: “I think Sonia Mills, the new chief executive of NHS Oxfordshire, fully appreciates that completing the new Bicester Community Hospital is a high priority so far as people in and around Bicester are concerned.

“This saga has been going on since 1997 and I understand people locally are getting very frustrated.”

Mr Mould said: “We need to ensure that the PCT gets the message – that Bicester residents stand fully behind the demand for a new hospital with beds on one site within the town.”

Mr Sibley organised the rally after NHS Oxfordshire shelved a scheme to build a new hospital in the town, citing complex legal issues.