THIS was the joyous scene outside the Selby War Memorial Hospital, following the announcement that a multi-million pound Government funding bid had been tabled to build a new facility.

In July, The Press reported Selby MP John Grogan visited health minister Patricia Hewitt to discuss possible funding for a new hospital from a £750 million capital funding programme.

A partnership of Selby District Council, North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT), North Yorkshire County Council, York Hospitals Trust and local GPs has now made a bid for a chunk of that funding.

The project involves demolishing the current premises and building a new hospital and offices for the district and county councils on the site.

Mr Grogan said: "I congratulate the local health service and both the district and county councils for putting this exciting plan together. It involves a new 26 bed hospital costing £9.2 million of public money being built adjacent to the existing building."

He said the project would be financed by a Selby District Council loan - paid back entirely by the NHS - and by a £3.5 million Government grant.

He added: "I am very optimistic that the Selby project will get the go ahead from Government and we should know the outcome by the middle of this year."