THE last roof tile was put in place yesterday at a community hospital being built in Sedgefield.

The final ridge tile on the Sedgefield Community Hospital was laid yesterday by occupational therapist, Angela Bannister.

She has worked at Sedgefield Hospital for more than 30 years and is retiring at the end of January.

The topping out ceremony signified that the building's external structure is now watertight and enables internal works, such as the construction of walls and ceilings, and engineering services to be installed.

Work began last July when Prime Minister Tony Blair, MP for Sedgefield, visited the site to cut the first turf.

Work is expected to be completed in July this year, when the hospital, which lies on the outskirts of the village, will replace the old ward huts, which date from the Second World War.

The 42-bed hospital will offer all the services currently provided at the outdated community hospital, as well as an extended x-ray department with an ultrasound service.

Outpatient and other services, including two-day hospital treatments, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics and foot health will also move into the new building.

Mrs Bannister said: "There has been talk of a new hospital at Sedgefield for as long as I can remember, and even as I witnessed the first turf being cut last July, I could not quite believe it was finally to be built.

"Although I am a little sorry to be leaving before the new facility is up and running, I am really pleased that my colleagues and their patients will have all the benefits of a modern, purpose-built hospital."

The hospital is being built by Clugston Construction, under the Government's Private Finance Initiative.

The South Durham Health Care NHS Trust's partners in the hospital venture are Normanby Healthcare Projects, a consortium consisting of Clugston and The Royal Bank of Scotland.