Hospital bosses have withdrawn plans to shove aside a charity cafe to make way for a Costa Coffee.

The decision comes after our sister paper the Medway Messenger revealed their plans.

Such was the outcry over the plan to turf out the Medway League of Friends from the main reception shop, the Medway NHS Foundation Trust has performed a U-turn.

Hundreds of protesters turned to social media to oppose the plans to uproot the loyal band of about 120 volunteers from their prime location.

Since the group was formed 50 years ago, they have raised an average of £500,000 a year tax-free to help pay for vital medical equipment and services.

Under the proposed scheme, the Friends say they would have had to move to a smaller and less easily accessible outlet at the other side of the hospital.

A spokesman for them said the move prompted them to seek legal advice.

Trust chief executive Lesley Dwyer said: “The trust deeply values the long-standing support of the League of Friends and has been in discussions regarding the facilities available in the main reception of Medway Maritime Hospital.

“One of the possibilities discussed was a relocation of the Friends shop to another area of the hospital.

“Following discussions with the League, we have assured them we are not requiring them to vacate the premises at this time.

“The chairman and I look forward to meeting with representatives from the League next week as we continue to consider the best way to provide retail options for patients, visitors and staff.”

Among those who would have been badly affected is Dave Johns, who has been supplying snacks to the shop, which also sells newspapers, magazines and toiletries, for 14 years.

Mr Johns, who runs the Medway Sandwich Company, said: “I have been providing sandwiches, baguettes and wraps every day of the year except Christmas Day.

“This is my livelihood. It’s family business which I have built up myself.

“I’m elated. This could not be better news. To see a business built up by a group of volunteers who have given their time and efforts for so many years sold out to a national company would not have been right.”

Gillingham resident Alf Ellis, 47, started volunteering eight years ago after falling seriously while at work.

The dad-of-four said: “I am unable to work full time.

“This has been a lifeline to me – without it I don’t know what I have done.”

The Friends’ operations manager, Scott Belcher, said: “We are working with Medway NHS to reach an amicable conclusion.

"We would like to reassure people that, while it may not be apparent, action is being taken to work towards the best situation for us and the hospital.”

A spokesman for Medway NHS Trust said discussions were ongoing.

Last week, the trust’s James Devine said: “We are looking at the possibility of bringing additional vendors on to our site to give the patients and visitors who come to Medway Maritime Hospital a greater variety of shops and services.

“To do this, we are also looking at how we can use our site as effectively as possible and where we can best locate shops, including the main Friends shop.

“We greatly value the huge contribution that the Friends make to our patients, our staff and the trust as a whole.”