A procession will be held to celebrate the history of three Middlesbrough hospitals and to mark the start of a new era in health care.

NHS staff, past and present, will walk from Middlesbrough General Hospital, the North Riding Infirmary and the neuro-rehabilitation unit at West Lane Hospital to The James Cook University Hospital on August 31.

By then all the wards and departments will have moved to the university hospital.

Led by chief executive Bill Murray and chairman John Foster, the procession will remember the contribution the hospitals have played to health on Teesside and celebrate the move.

"It will be a day of mixed emotions, no doubt tinged with sadness for many of us and I have to pay tribute to all the staff for their continued commitment, dedication and enthusiasm," said Mr Murray who will retire soon.

"However, I would like to extend the procession invitation to everyone. Former patients, schools, local community groups are more than welcome to join us, in fact the more the merrier

"It has been a privilege to be part of this trust and I am proud and honoured to lead this walk."

The procession will be followed by a family fun day on the university hospital site from noon.