BOLTON'S new multi-million pound hospital has been given given a royal seal of approval.

The go ahead has been officially given by The Queen for the hospital to be called The Royal Bolton Hospital.

Mrs Barbara Peacock, chairman of the Bolton Hospitals' Trust, announced the news at a civic service of thanksgiving yesterday for the Bolton Royal Infirmary which closed last month.

She told the congregation at Bolton Parish Church: "I am both proud and honoured to be able to tell you all today that the name of the deeply-loved Royal will live on."

The Royal title was originally granted in 1932, recognising more than 100 years service of the Bolton Dispensary and then the Infirmary. Bolton Royal Infirmary closed last month as part of a long-planned scheme to bring all acute hospitals on the one site.

A £45 million new development at the General site, Minerva Road, Farnworth - opened earlier this year.

Although the hospital will be known by its new title immediately, it will take time for the signs to be altered.

The thanksgiving service was attended by representatives of many organisations.

The service was conducted by Canon Alan Wolstencroft, Vicar of Bolton with the Rev Graham Weir and the Rev Geoff Revett from the Hospital chaplaincy Team.

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