PATIENTS at Prestwich Hospital will soon be able to get in shape.

For Salford NHS Trust has been granted permission to build more facilities at the Bury New Road site, including a gym.

Large areas of land have already been cleared of old buildings to make way for the development.

An extensive complex of new linked buildings, including low and medium secure units, administration and the gym, will be built on land adjacent to the Tesco site.

And similar facilities will be created on the site of Clifton House, which was demolished last year.

The development would involve the re-instatement of mental health care facilities in areas of the hospital where Victorian buildings have been removed.

Borough planning officer Mr Brian Daniel said of the scheme: "The council generally supports proposals for improvements of existing facilities for people with mental illnesses and other groups with special needs.

"The latest schemes represent a further stage in the modernisation of mental health facilities at Prestwich Hospital."

Detailed plans must now be submitted to Bury Council's planning committee before any work can begin.