BOLTON'S Coronary Care Unit, solely funded by the people of the town and new Wanderers owner Eddie Davies, was officially opened yesterday.

A small group gathered to watch Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce unveil the plaque to the unit, which opened to patients in December.

Little Lever-born Mr Davies, who has given £200,000 towards the unit, unveiled a plaque to the Davies Suite, which consists of staff offices and the relatives room.

But, although £1.2million has been raised so far, a further £100,000 is needed to meet the appeal target for the unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Brett Warburton, chair of the Coronary Care Appeal, attended the unveiling along with fund-raiser Jenny Walsh and former sister at the unit Anne Kaneen. Matron Tracy Higgerson and other coronary care staff members showed the guests around the new unit.

Formally opening the Davies Suite, Mr Davies said: "Most people know my story. I had multiple by-pass surgery in 1996 so when Brett Warburton approached me to help out, I was only too pleased to do so."

Mr Allardyce, who formally opened the unit on behalf of the people of Bolton, said: "Everyone has worked so hard putting the funds together. I was fortunate enough to have a look around the unit before it opened and was thoroughly impressed - I just hope you don't see me in here! I hope this is the second and last time I see it!

"To raise such a huge amount of money in such a short space of time is amazing; every credit should go to the people of Bolton and Mr Davies."

The unit has 10 beds which are all electronically controlled. Each patient has a pressure-reducing mattress and all the latest technology. The staff can keep an eye on everyone from their centrally positioned work station.

Mr Warburton said: "It's the small details that make the huge difference, a lot of though has gone in to the design. The patients I have spoken to seem very happy and the staff can see all the patients from their work station. In the old unit, there were beds the staff could not even see and the patients could not see the staff!"

Heart patient Father John Rigby, aged 73, was admitted to the unit on Monday after suffering a heart attack. He was a patient in the old unit three years ago.

He said: "The unit is phenomenal, it's like being in a hotel. It's a wonderful place and I would not be here if it wasn't for these people. It must be better for the patient to recover in good conditions like this. It's light and airy and has all the latest technology and the staff are fantastic."

Donations can be sent to Bolton Coronary Care Appeal, Appeal Office, Davenport House, Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton.