DOCTORS at Bolton Royal Infirmary will engage in one last battle with doctors from Bolton General Hospital at the annual charity cricket match.

Over the years the match has become something of a tradition with each side contending for the silver trophy.

The cricket match provides the doctors with the opportunity to prove which hospital is best - at cricket anyway.

But Bolton Royal Infirmary is set to close and this year will see the last match between the two teams with Bolton Royal hoping to make a lasting impression on the competition.

The match kicks off at 1pm on Sunday at Egerton Cricket Club.

There is no admission charge but a charity raffle will be held on the day.

The event is organised by the Bolton Hospital Saturday Council, which have a long association with both hospitals and with helping the people of Bolton.

Peter Green, chief executive of Hospital Saturday, said: "The match has always been a good, closely contested game.

"It gives us the opportunity of thanking the hospitals for the help they have given to the health scheme over the year, and to raise additional money for patients."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.