A PETITION to save a popular health centre from closure is gathering momentum, with hundreds of people queueing to sign up.

Billericay town councillor Terence Gandy is campaigning to ensure the St Andrew's Centre, in Stock Road, Billericay, is not closed under a health service review.

Worried Billericay residents had been flocking to sign his petition, he said.

"Hundreds of people have signed already," he added.

"The Rev Warner Pidgeon, from Christ Church, Billericay, allowed me to address the congregation after a service last week and after my brief explanation, the congregation applauded me.

"There were queues to sign the petition afterwards."

Retired teacher Mr Gandy started the campaign in response to rumours the medical centre, off Stock Road, was set to close.

It provides an important service for residents needing blood tests, physiotherapy, and X-rays, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs it, has repeatedly insisted the review is a routine matter and there are no specific plans to close St Andrews.

Mr Gandy is still highly suspicious and recalled the campaign to save St Andrews Burns Unit, on the same site, a decade ago.

He said: "Letters and conversations this time have reminded me of all the residents who attempted to secure the future of the burns unit, by numerous fundraising activities.

"We lost the burns unit, as we lost our hospital before that."

Hospital trust spokeswoman Luenne Featherstone said: "There are no plans or proposals at the moment for changes to services at the St Andrew's Centre."