TWO health trusts which run some of Lancashire's largest hospitals are to merge, it has been announced.

The coming together of Blackburn, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley Health Care and Burnley Health Care NHS Trust should save £500,000.

The move is expected to mean some job losses but it is not clear how many.

It is hoped services will be improved and become more cost-effective for the benefit of patients and the running of each hospital.