NHS managers have scrapped controversial plans to close beds at hospitals in the county.

Two primary care trusts have withdrawn their decision to close 37 community hospital beds and will not make any further decision until public consultation has been carried out.

The decision comes after mounting public pressure and threat of legal action by three district councils, South Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.

Jane Dudley, acting chief executive of the South West and South East Oxfordshire NHS PCTs, said the trusts had met the councils earlier in the week to discuss their concerns. She said: "While recognising that this decision arose from concerns about the clinical safety of operating services without the appropriate numbers of staff, the councils felt that the process to arrive at a decision had not included sufficient public involvement. The PCTs have taken the councils' concerns seriously and have withdrawn the decision."

Mrs Dudley said the PCTs would now work closely with the councils to agree a framework for public consultation. The PCTs' announcement to close beds had been met with outrage by patient groups and hospital campaigners, who branded the move 'closure by stealth'.

Six beds were due to be closed at hospitals in Didcot, Wallingford, Wantage, Abingdon and Henley, with seven going at Witney.