The last roof tile was put into place yesterday at a new community hospital being built in the North-East.

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

She has worked at Sedgefield Hospital for over 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 the internal works such as walls, ceilings and engineering services to be installed.

Work started on the hospital last July when the 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 on the outskirts of the village will replace the old hutted wards, which date back to the Second World War.

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

Current outpatient and other services such as two day hospitals, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics and foot health will also move into the new building.

Angela 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 venture are Normanby Healthcare Projects Ltd, a consortium consisting of Clugston and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc.