ORGANISERS of a reunion for hospital staff fear it may be a wash-out, after records of former colleagues were destroyed during floods.

Tindale Crescent Hospital, Bishop Auckland, is planning a celebration for the millennium, and the Queen Mother's birthday.

The hospital's helpers want to invite as many former staff as possible.

But when it came to sending out invitations, organiser Mary Hodgson said it became apparent their list of ex-staff had been washed away.

She said: "Last year, we had a party to celebrate 100-years of the hospital. We invited all the old staff and had a wonderful day. We decided to repeat it and have another one for the millennium, the Queen Mother, and all the patients, in August.

"But there was a problem. Our secretary's house was flooded in the last big floods and we lost a lot of our books.

"When we couldn't find the address book, we realised we were up the creek."

Secretary Nellie Bowser is in temporary accommodation until her flood-wrecked home is suitable to live in again.

She said: "I can't write to people to tell them about the event, but I would love as many as possible to come along."

The reunion will be on August 12 from 2pm. To attend, ring Mary on (01388) 604191.