A SPECIAL ceremony will mark the start of building work on the new multi-million pound community hospital and health centre in Longridge.

A traditional sod-cutting ceremony will be held on Monday, May 8 and will be attended by Communicare NHS Trust chairman Sheila Maw, chief executive Ken Johnson and director of facilities David Peers.

The £2.3million community hospital and health centre building in St Wilfred's Terrace -- which is getting under way after more than nine years of planning -- will replace the existing Ribchester Community Hospital and Longridge Health Centre

Building preparation work on the site has been carried out, which included the modification of the junction of St Wilfred's Terrace where it joins Derby Road, and a new "turnaround" facility near the school entrance.

Part of the church wall will be taken down and rebuilt to widen St Wilfred's Terrace where it joins Derby Road.

The new building will boast an inpatient ward of 15 beds and improved physiotherapy and occupational therapy accommodation within an integrated rehabilitation unit.

It will have clinic facilities on the ground floor and inpatient wards will be on the first floor.

Plans to build the new hospital were hatched in 1990 after it was decided by the Government that Ribchester Community Hospital would close subject to alternative services being provided locally.

The new hospital should be finished by next summer.