Tory MP Eric Pickles launched a scathing attack on Health chiefs as the people of Ongar united to fight for the beleaguered War Memorial Hospital.

Mr Pickles's outspoken condemnation of the local NHS Trust and the health authority came at a bury-the-hatchet summit of rival factions battling to save the hospital.

The rallying cry at the meeting may have been consultation not confrontation but there was applause as the town's MP criticised health officials' move to shut the hospital on staffing grounds only days before Health Minister John Denham reprieved it.

There was applause as he told the public meeting: "I will never forgive the trust for the cheap manoeuvre of trying to pre-empt the decision by an emergency closure.

"This was a cheap, nasty way of saving money because the trust had overspent and Ongar was out there on a limb which was pretty easy to cut off.

"What the trust was about was doing things behind people's backs, about secret negotiations and a total for the disposal of public property."

The MP added that the trust and the newly-formed Primary Care Group had a duty to consult local people, something they had failed to do.

"It's been the dialogue of the deaf. We've talked to them and they've not listened; they've just ignored us because they thought it was a foregone conclusion.

"But what started out as a cheap, nasty way of saving money has now become a tremendous opportunity to look at the way in which our services are developed.

"We have something in Ongar that we can be proud of and which could lead the way."

The lively meeting attended by more than 100 was a friendly affair after all the wrangles of the past: there were jokes, laughter and enthusiastic applause.

The positive atmosphere was symbolised by Peter Crichton, a member of the Save the Hospital campaign, paying public tribute to Cllr Doug Kelly, the former chairman who stood down after a row.

Mr Crichton said: "Through his persistent badgering at every meeting of the trust he finally ground them down." There was prolonged applause when he added: "We thank you very much indeed for all your efforts."

Cllr Kelly told the meeting that the initial battle to keep the hospital in the NHS had to be confrontational. There was a dual purpose: save the hospital and retain the war memorial. That was why he had registered the hospital's name at Companies House.

He said that now the battle had been won, Ongar had to identify what the health needs of the community were and ensure that they were debated with vigour and conviction.

"We now have another campaign. It is essential to be as one, to be flexible, realistic and understanding. Confrontation is not the answer now; consultation is more likely to get much of what we require."

League of Friends chairman Sheila Jackman said that there had been some doubts expressed about the league's commitment to the hospital but she reminded the audience that they had pledged £20,000 a year for five years towards the running costs, an undertaking that still stood.

She added: "It's not the style of any league of friends to be confrontational and to engender antagonism is most unhelpful. I can assure you we shall use the respect the organisation has earned to ensure the best possible outcome from this new period of consultation."

JOINT EFFORT: The people of Ongar listen intently as chairman Edwyn Gilmour charts the way ahead.

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