CAMPAIGNERS took to the streets of York today to protest against mental health cuts.

A march organised by Mental Health Action York (MHAY) saw protesters gather in St Helen's Square before heading on a loop around the city centre.

MHAY was formed after the closure of Bootham Park Hospital in October and is campaigning to reopen its adult beds - at least until a new building is opened in 2019.

York Press:

Some of the protesters get ready to march

York Central MP Rachael Maskell addressed the crowd before joining them as they marched up Stonegate.

She said: "What a fantastic turnout it is today.

"I have re-arranged my diary so I can be with you throughout the march.

"It is so important that we are standing up for not just the one in four people who experience mental health challenges, but the one in one who could be affected by them.

"It's vital that we put this marker down today that we need quality mental health facilities in York.

"Let's get marching for mental health."

Bob Adams, a founder member of MHAY and a retired consultant psychiatrist, said the march aimed to draw attention to mental heath cuts in York and the surrounding area.

"York has been particularly hit with the closure of Bootham Park Hospital when we lost when we lost all of our adult beds at just five days' notice," he said.

"We want to raise attention to this and make sure that the residents of York have a say in how services are developed in the future."

"In my time I have seen the peak of mental health services and now the decline, which is very bad."

York Press:

The march gets under way

Tees, Esk & Wear Valley NHS Trust (TEWV), which runs York's mental health services, will be consulting about its plans to build a new hospital in the city by 2019.

Mr Adams said: "After this march we want to talk TEWV. We have invited them to come to one of our meetings and we will take part in their consultation.

"We need to have a good look at the Bootham Park site because some of it has been de-listed, which means we can do something with it.

"It's in centre of York and near the general hospital. It needs to be looked at seriously."