A TWO-YEAR project to build a medical centre came to fruition with the official opening of the new premises.

Leyburn Medical Centre, in Brentwood, brings together the town's health services under one roof, with space for GPs, midwives, health visitors and district nurses, as well as administrators.

The new centre was officially opened by 98-year-old Dorothy Walker, one of the oldest patients at the practice.

She said: "I felt very honoured when I was asked to open this new centre. At 98, I'm a very good recommendation for the doctors here."

When the plans for the centre were first unveiled, there were objections from some of the neighbours, who felt that it would lead to extra traffic.

But GPs said the centre would not attract any more patients than were at the old site.

Dr Richard Walker has worked for the practice for 30 years. It employed just seven people when he started.

He said: "Since then, we have expanded the building three times and increased the staff threefold and we have now simply run out of space."