PERSHORE Cottage Hospital's League of Friends has plenty to celebrate now plans for a new hospital in the town have been approved.

Councillors unanimously gave the go-ahead for the cottage hospital, at a Wychavon development committee meeting last Thursday.

The development is for a 26-bed hospital and a health centre for 13 doctors in the grounds of Pershore's Civic Centre off Queen Elizabeth Drive.

Tricia Freeman, chairman of the Friends said members were now embarking on a major recruitment and fund raising drive to ensure the hospital will be one of the best equipped.

She said: "We are thrilled and delighted about the news. "It's just brilliant and there are so many people to thank. I think people didn't become members of the Friends before because they weren't sure if they were going to have a new hospital."

The hospital project is a joint venture between the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust and Wychavon District Council.

Managing director of the council, Jack Hegarty said: "We are delighted that the development has been granted planning permission " Building work is expected to start next Spring or Summer. Anyone who wants to join the Friends should ring treasurer Pete Belcher on 01386 861358, or Barbara Wilkinson on 01386 710271.

Their next fundraising drive will be a Flutes and Fodder concert which takes place this Saturday at St Andrew's Church, Pershore, at 7.30pm.

The public is also invited to attend a meeting of Worcestershire County Council's Health Scrutiny Panel at Pershore Civic Centre on Tuesday, November 2 at 3pm to discuss South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust's ongoing consultation on modernising healthcare in Pershore.