TEARS flowed freely during an emotional reunion of former staff at Sedgefield Community Hospital.

About 300 people, who have worked at the hospital over the past 60 years or so, turned up on Sunday to say a fond farewell to the "friendly hospital".

This was the final reunion of staff at the hospital, which started as a military hospital in 1940.

In later years it became an emergency, then general and finally a community hospital.

Transfer of the hospital to purpose-built premises on the outskirts of the town is expected to take place next week, and the doors will close on Saturday, July 20. The formal opening of the hospital will take place later in the year.

Reunion organiser Sylvia Garbutt was delighted by the turnout, which included staff from all departments.

The oldest attendee was 89, and former staff included 83-year-old Lily Kirby, whose claim to fame was washing the then Duke of Wellington's bottom at the hospital in 1944.

Father John Caden, the long serving hospital chaplain, gave a short speech thanking all who had contributed to the life of the hospital over the years.

Mrs Garbutt, who thanked everybody for attending and the hospital for allowing the reunion to take place, said: "I was absolutely overwhelmed when everybody landed.

"We had the reunion because the hospital is closing and it's the end of an era. It was quite emotional because we've had a lot of happy memories there."