WORK will start on Redditch's long-awaited new district general hospital in Woodrow early next month with the hope that it will give the town a much needed jobs boost.

Redditch chiefs were talking with officials of the Stafford-based building firm Taylor Woodrow Constructions within hours of the announcement that they had won the contract, worth £15,308.

Work will start on November 8 and if building goes ahead as planned the first patients will be admitted in 1986.

Service roads and sewers have already been constructed which means the contractors will be able to begin work on the hospital and residential buildings immediately.

"I'm confident that the hospital project will bring work to the town although it is too early to say how many jobs there will be and when they will be available," said Stan Bonas, manager of Redditch Job Centre.