Parents who blocked council plans to cut teacher numbers say they could again unite to fight cuts at a local hospital.

Health chiefs are conducting a review which could result in the closure of the children's ward at Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital.

And despite NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde insisting no final decision has been taken, parents who forced a Renfrewshire Council U-turn on school cuts say they are prepared to battle again.

Stephen Wright, of Renfrewshire Parent Council Forum, which thwarted cuts in the local authority's primary schools earlier this year, said parent power can be a powerful force.

His threat came as families and local politicians banded together to launch the Kids Need Our Ward Campaign, to fight the closure of the RAH children's ward.

Mr Wright said: "Many parents are very concerned about the threatened loss of the ward and I'm sure many will want to support the KNOW campaign.

"Public bodies can be held accountable and can be forced to abandon policies which would have a detrimental effect on the local community.

"I hope the health board take this into account when they consider their proposal to close Ward 15".

The KNOW campaign has an online petition and Facebook group and the backing of councillors from several parties on Renfrewshire Council have voiced their opposition to any cuts.

Earlier this year, councillors backed a motion calling on the board to scrap any plans to close in-patient paediatric service at the hospital.

John Kellly, one of the organisers of the KNOW campaign, said: "As a parent, it is inconceivable that we will no longer be allowed to have local access to excellent standards of care at the hospital."

And local MP Douglas Alexander has pledged his support to the campaign, saying: "The health board has not provided answers that satisfy me, staff, or patients about these closure plans.

"We need and deserve real answers, not fake consultations."

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said: "No final decisions have been taken - what we are doing is reviewing the current service."

And she vowed "A full public consultation" would be held if there was a case for change.