A SUCCESSFUL 25-year hospital campaign is to get the royal seal of approval on Monday.

HRH The Princess Royal will officially open Chorley Hospital's new Phase III development which brought the hospital up to full district general status.

Campaigners fought for more than two decades to get the go- ahead to the £38m extension from regional health chiefs.

The princess will unveil a plaque in the main reception area and meet staff and patients informally. There will also be a viewing area on the main hospital car park for the public.

Mr Michael Welsh, chairman of Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust, said: "We are honoured that the Princess Royal has agreed to visit our new hospital and we hope that this will be a memorable occasion for patients and staff as well as those many people in Chorley and South Ribble whose wholehearted support and determination has made this development possible."

North West Regional Health Authority chairman Sir Bruce Martin plunged the first spade into a green field off Chancery Road to mark the start of work on the development in March 1992.

The project - which was the largest development in Chorley since the building of the ROF in 1936 - was completed in June 1995.

Phase I was the opening of the maternity ward in 1970, then a few years later Phase II came with the completion of the Beechurst psychiatric unit. Plans for Phase III started a major campaign as people from all walks of life battled for urgently needed new facilities.

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