THE final stone has been put in place at Bishop Auckland's new £67m hospital.

After two-and-a-half years, building work on the impressive new hospital has been completed, with the last stone being set in place, at the entrance, on Friday.

But it will be another four months before patients and staff can begin the move into the new building.

Work still needs to be completed on furnishing and equipping the hospital with an extra £3m of medical equipment.

The move will come as a relief for medical staff, who care for patients in the temporary huts that make up most of the old hospital.

The huts were built during the Second World War and were only intended to be in use for 20 years.

The new building will contain 347 beds and house clinical services presently provided by the existing hospital and Tindale Crescent Hospital.

Gary Siddle, a charge nurse in the accident and emergency, helped Shepherd labourer Brian Windley tap the final stone into place in the main entrance.

Gary said: "This is a very impressive building which has already become a major landmark in the town.

"We have waited a long time for our new hospital and are now looking forward to moving in to our new accommodation next year.

"The modern facilities will make a real difference to both patients and staff."

The laying of the last stone was also a significant occasion for Brian Windley, who has been employed by construction company Shepherd for 36 years and will be retiring at Christmas.

He said: "I started with Shepherd back in 1965 and my first job was as a labourer on the council housing development in Richmond.

"I am very proud to be able to apply the finishing touches to what is a wonderful project, the building of the new Bishop Auckland General Hospital, and retire on the same day."

The building of the new hospital has involved more than 2,500 square metres of natural stone, more than 100,000 facing bricks, 10,000 cubic metres of concrete and the employment of more than 450 staff at the peak of the project