Beds at one of three under-threat community hospitals will close temporarily later this month due to a staffing crisis.

It comes just weeks after bosses promised not to shut beds at Alston, Wigton and Maryport until alternative care is in place.

However they always said that may change if staffing issues became so bad they could not provide safe care.

Now they have announced that Alston's six beds will close on April 17 until further notice.

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals, insists it is a temporary measure, for safety reasons.

Last month health bosses agreed long term plans to permanently close the inpatient beds at Alston, Wigton and Maryport.

However there was a caveat - that they would work with the three communities to draw up innovative new care models, and wouldn't close any beds - unless for safety reasons - until these were in place.

But the trust said the staffing situation in Alston has already become unsustainable, with nurses going above and beyond - including working extra hours and cancelling holidays - for some time.

Trust managers have also been covering shifts to keep the service running, while community nursing services have been reduced.

Dr Craig Melrose, associate medical director, insisted: “This is a temporary position that we will be reviewing on a monthly basis and we will re-open the beds when we are able to safely staff the ward again.”

To minimise the impact of the bed closures, staff will remain in Alston to deliver a more comprehensive community-based service, looking after people at home. The hospital's nurse-led treatment centre, outpatient department and day hospital will remain open.

Dr Melrose added: "We remain optimistic as we continue to recruit to vacant posts and are extremely grateful to the community groups who have agreed to support an innovative new recruitment campaign

"We must be clear that Alston hospital and the community services in the area have a long term and exciting future and any new staff will be actively encouraged to join the work to redesign services.”

Malcolm Forster, of the Alston Hospital League of Friends, said: “We are very grateful to the staff in the hospital for working extended and extra shifts to keep the ward open but it can’t continue.

"We feel that the community can really help in attracting potential recruits. Alston is a unique and beautiful place to live and work in and the hospital has a special place in it. We urge everybody to share these vacancies through their social networks and help raise the profile of Alston Moor and the hospital.”

The trust is also preparing to re-open beds at Workington Hospital this month to minimise the impact.