THE region's newest hospital commemorated its first anniversary by dedicating a sundial to the memory of one of its biggest supporters.

It is exactly one year since the £8m Sedgefield Community Hospital admitted its first patients.

The sundial was presented by Sedgefield Town Council in memory of Councillor Monica Cunningham, a staunch supporter of the proposed hospital who died two years ago.

The Mayor of Sedgefield Village, Linda Maddison, joined councillors, friends and family of the late Coun Cunningham at the hospital to unveil the sundial in grounds near the Courtyard Caf.

Among the guests was Coun Cunningham's 87-year-old sister, Margaret Bell, and her nieces Judith, Moya and Monica.

Coun Maddison said: "Monica was a councillor for many years and during that time she campaigned relentlessly for a new community hospital for Sedgefield and the surrounding area to replace the old one. After several hiccups it was finally agreed to build the new hospital and whilst Monica was aware of the proposals, unfortunately she was not able to see the development begin and come to fruition.

"I'm sure she would have been very pleased with the final result."

The 42-bed hospital, which took only one year to complete, has already treated 13,000 patients since its opening last July.

The hospital replaced a run-down collection of huts a mile outside Sedgefield, which were originally built for Dunkirk casualties in the Second World War.

It has 26 elderly care beds and 16 elderly mental health beds and offers clinics in orthopaedics, rheumatology, physiotherapy and psychology

Sister Jan Connor, who worked in the old hospital for almost 25 years, said the facility has made a huge difference.

She said: "It's just a pleasure to come to work every day in this new building."