A PETITION has been launched to secure Leighton Hospital's place among eight new-build sites in a round of multi-billion pound hospital spending.

Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the names of the 40 hospitals that will be included as part of a massive £3.7 billion hospital building programme announced during last year's election campaign.

The building work is due to be completed by 2030. Now the government has announced a further eight sites will be chosen to extend the programme.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan MP has called for more major investment in the Crewe medical complex and is now launching a campaign to have Leighton included among the final eight sites.

The MP, who has started a petition, said: "Leighton Hospital was built in the 1970s and was never planned to still be in use today. It has benefited from a number of big investments in new theatres and other facilities and £15 million will be put into A&E this year and next year.

"But the reality is that add-on blocks and new facilities can only take you so far. Leighton needs a fundamental rebuild and this funding opportunity is a unique one we need to grab with both hands. It will also be a chance to grow the hospital to meet the population increase we have seen locally over recent years."

As well as asking residents to sign a petition to back the campaign, the MP is asking people to share their positive stories of their own and their family members' treatment at Leighton.

He will publish the stories over the coming weeks to build support for the campaign.

"We had an enormous response from residents as part of our campaign to get Leighton funding for it's A&E, with thousands signing the petition," added the MP.

"Now we need peoples' help again to get behind Leighton. But I think what will really bring to life how important our local hospital is to this community is hearing the real life stories of how the staff and facilities have come through for people at a time when they really needed them."

You can find the campaign petition here.