The opening of the Ledbury Community Hospital Information Office in New Street on Monday (October 1) is being hailed as a popular success by Ledbury Health, the subsidiary company of hospital developer Shaw Homes (HA) Limited.

More than 50 people called in on the opening day, which was chosen to coincide with the National Older People Day.

Project manager Caroline Jones said: "It was really busy, so busy, it was surprising."

She said she hoped people would also attend the next Hospital Liaison Group Meeting, at the Information Office on October 24, from 9.45am.

The office, at 25 New Street, is displaying a mock-up of a typical hospital bedroom and will be staffed seven days a week, from 10am to 4pm, until further notice.

It also contains plans of the hospital layout, as it will appear when opened on March 8, 2002.

The hospital's newly- appointed manager, Diane Rudge, said of the office opening day: "We were very excited by the response and we hope that people will continue to come in and see us."