Plans to improve services at maternity units in Clacton and Harwich were welcomed today.

Health bosses unveiled their Towards the Best, Together document, which includes eight key points, with maternity care featuring highly.

It says maternity services will be maintained at the sites, while one-to-one midwife-led care for mothers would be guaranteed.

Mothers will also be given a choice of where to give birth, while a commitment would also be made to keep an mother-and-baby care unit at each centre.

East of England Strategic Health Authority is to open the report to consultation until August 4, with more than 50 meetings with clinical and patient groups arranged.

A report will then be presented to the NHS East of England Board on September 25.

For information about the proposals, visit www.eoe.nhs.uk