ANTI-cuts protestors are celebrating victory after the Primary Care Trust announced that the county's eight community hospitals and health services would remain in the NHS.

The Board yesterday voted today to create a new stand-alone NHS Trust and to reject the option of opening health services up to private sector bids.

This was a complete reversal of their initial plan to create a Community Interest Company which would have taken over all local NHS services.

"Forest of Dean Against the Cuts has been extremely active in this campaign," said a spokesman.

"During the campaign they have spoken to thousands of local people who willingly signed up to show their support for keeping health care services within the NHS.

"There were many stories of loyalty to the Dilke and Lydney hospitals. This vote shows that small campaigns can win, it is possible to reverse the bad decisions of policy makers if people stand together and make their voices heard."

Alongside the mood of celebration today was a note of caution. GPs will be commissioning services and there will be pressure to outsource to private companies.

Claude Mickleson of Forest of Dean Against the Cuts said: "We know that the NHS still faces wider threats both locally and nationally with widespread attempts to privatise, to cut staff numbers and to lower pay.

"We will need to be vigilant – but we will be better able to resisit future attacks now that we have won this battle.

"We hope today's outcome makes everyone - including the Clinical Commissioning Group, who will soon take over the decision making in Gloucestershire – realise that when the principles of a free, publicly owned NHS are under attack, people will stand up to protect it."