TODAY'S flashback focuses on 2001 - when a warning was issued that closing the Rankin maternity unit could lead to the loss of other services.

Dr Jim Robins, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who worked at Greenock's maternity unit, spoke out about his fears amid a review of the unit.

Speaking at a hearing which was examining the future of maternity services in Argyll & Clyde, he said: "If you close the units and take away maternity from general hospitals, paediatrics will follow and gynaecology almost certainly.

"Accident and emergency wouldn't be able to cope with paediatrics.

"It has much wider issues."

On a lighter note, an ABBA tribute night and a sponsored moustache shave helped to raise £750 for charity.

The cash was raised by the ladies section of Greenock Police Club and ex-policeman Jim McLellan for Ardgowan Hospice.

The former PC raised £360 of the total by having his moustache taken off.

Also making headlines were two teenagers set to represent Inverclyde at the Church of Scotland’s Youth Assembly in Dundee.

They were William Boyle, a member of St Margaret’s Church, and Claire Melville, a member of St John’s Church in Gourock.

Both were asked by their ministers to go to the event attended by 250 to 300 young people.

William, a pupil at Greenock Academy and one of the teachers of the junior section of his church’s Sunday school, said: "It will be good to meet different people of my age from other churches."

A kind nurse who donated bone marrow helped to save the life of a teenager.

Angela Slaven from Gourock, who worked at Inverclyde Royal, was given the good news by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

She was found to be the perfect tissue match for an American teenager who was seriously ill with leukaemia.

In Morton news, boss Allan Evans praised the Inverclyde public as he urged people to turn out in force as the club battled on the pitch and faced a cash crisis off it.

Ton were due to face Airdrie at Cappielow and Evans stressed the importance of a victory against one of their principal rivals at the bottom end of the First Division table.

Evans said: "People realise the situation.

"They’ve been great.

"We need them to continue to get behind us until the problem is solved and I’m sure they will."

Unfortunately Ton would lose the crunch game 3-0.