CAMPAIGNERS are today celebrating after winning their fight to retain the Selby War Memorial Hospital name.

Moee than 1,700 people who took part in a referendum voted for the Doncaster Road facility to be called the New Selby War Memorial Hospital.

Just 116 supported the alternative option, Selby Community Hospital, which was originally suggested by health chiefs but sparked a campaign led by the Fraternitie of Olde Selebians.

"We were so moved by the depth of feeling in Selby that we wanted to give people a chance to have their say," said Jayne Brown, chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York.

"We are very much aware of the importance of the war memorial legacy in the hospital's history, and we will soon be publishing details of how we plan to preserve and recognise this in addition to the new name."

The new hospital wil open in June and Peter Palmer of the Fraternitie said: "We're very, very pleased that the people of Selby have voted against the community hospital name and the war memorial name will be retained in some form."

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams said: "It is great news people power has won in the end and this historic name, which means so much to the people of Selby, will live on."

* For the full story, see The Press on Wednesday.