East Cheshire NHS Trust has confirmed today that women will not be able to give birth at Macclesfield Hospital until the end of March next year.

The Trust said scans will go ahead in Macclesfield, but hospital births will continue to happen at neighbouring facilities such as Stepping Hill and Wythenshawe hospitals.

The Trust said these measures form part of its ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic, to protect patients and staff from the risk of the virus and to maintain safe staffing levels at the hospital.

Local midwives are contacting women who are affected to discuss their options with immediate effect and the Trust added all women and their families will be offered appropriate care.

Home births across East Cheshire will also restart in September.

A spokesperson for the Trust said feedback from new mums giving birth at the different sites over the last few months has been positive and this extension provides further certainty about their care.

John Wilbraham, Trust chief executive said: "We are taking every step possible to keep patients and staff safe during the pandemic.

"The extension of existing arrangements ensures that women who are due to give birth in the next six months have certainty around their care plans."

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