HOSPITAL bosses today threw a challenge to the public -- find us a name for our new building.

Designs for the new Blackburn hospital are beginning to take shape and bosses are now seeking ideas for naming the building.

Simon Neville, of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said the trust was choosing between three draft proposals for the huge extension to Queen's Park Hospital.

Ten building companies offered to build the extension, which will more than double the size of Queen's Park Hospital when it opens in 2004 and will replace Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

But the Trust does not want the old Infirmary to be forgotten, and would like to find a new title for the extended Queen's Park Hospital combining the two names.

Chief executive John Thomas said: "One option would be to ask to retain the Royal Warrant granted to 1914 by King George V to the Blackburn Royal Infirmary, and name the new single site hospital the Royal Blackburn Hospital. We would like to hear the views of staff and the general public."

Queen's Park Hospital was established in the mid 19th century as a workhouse, while Blackburn Royal Infirmary was built in 1865 as a voluntary hospital and was paid for by the people of East Lancashire until the NHS was established in 1948.

Anyone who has views on renaming the combined hospitals can contact Janice Atkinson on 01254 293807 or write to her at Queen's Park Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH.