MALTON Hospital will benefit from a new state of the art x-ray machine thanks to the work of a charity dedicated to supporting it.

The League of Friends of Malton Hospital have funded the more than £200k investment for the new x-ray equipment which will replace the hospital's aging machine to improve the reliability of x-ray images, leading to a better diagnosis.

Chair of the League of Friends of Malton Hospital Jezz Kipling said: "We are delighted to fund this investment at Malton Hospital. The current equipment is 23 years old so it will be of real value to the people of Malton that they can receive the most up to date treatment without having to travel to Scarborough or York."

Patrick Crowley, chief executive, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said that the new x-ray machine was "fantastic news for patients in the Ryedale area."

He said: "The new technology will allow a full range of radiographic imaging and it will reduce the time it takes for patients to have an x-ray.

"New equipment will mean a better, more reliable service all round as well as better outcomes for patients in Malton. We are very grateful to the League of Friends for this donation."