The bells of St Mary’s Church bells will ring out across the town in a special three-hour peal to celebrate securing the future of the Horton Hospital.

St Mary’s Church was where bosses of Oxfordshire PCT told residents in a public meeting that services at the hospital would be downgraded.

North Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry has organised the event, which takes place on Wednesday, June 30, from 6pm until 9pm.

He said: “I think it is very appropriate that a public and sustained peal of bells should ring out over Banbury to celebrate all that has been achieved over a seven-year-long campaign to ‘Keep the Horton General’.

“It was in St Mary’s Church that the previous leadership of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust unsuccessfully tried to convince the local community to accept downgrading of services at the Horton.

“We were having none of it.

“Traditionally, church bells have rung to mark joyous celebration and I am very glad that Linda Green, the Vicar of St Mary’s, the churchwarden and the tower captain have all agreed for this special Peal of Bells to ring out over Banbury to mark the town’s deliverance from downgrading of services and to celebrate the enhancement of services at the Horton General Hospital.”

Later, a Peal Board, painted black with gold writing, will be made and put up in the church to mark the occasion and name each of the bell ringers.

l MP Tony Baldry and NHS Oxfordshire staff were given a pat on the back by health minister Simon Burns.

News that the future of children’s and maternity services at Banbury’s Horton Hospital was secure had reached the corridors of power in Westminster.

In a debate in the House of Commons over the hospital, Mr Burns also accepted an invitation to visit the site.