A CEMETERY containing the remains of nuns and monks will remain undisturbed when a hospital closes.

Officials at the St John of God Hospital at Scorton, North Yorkshire, have confirmed that the consecrated plot, behind the main building, would not be part of the premises eventually sold.

Last week, proposals were announced to move services from the 120-year-old hospital to community sites in Richmondshire in the next two to five years. If the plans go ahead the hospital buildings would be sold.

The premises, a former convent of Poor Clare nuns, is no longer able to meet modern standards and impending Government legislation on social care.

Managers also hope the move will allow the hospital to expand, creating more jobs.

The cemetery contains the remains of 50 nuns from when the building was a convent, plus the remains of about 35 monks and a number of other people with close links to the hospital.

Hospital managing director Liz Pollard said a similar situation had arisen when the Hospitaller Order of St John sold a building in Hertfordshire.

She said the cemetery at that site remained intact in the same way as the one at Scorton would.