WORK has begun on the much-anticipated Baby Grow Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Thousands of people throughout Chester and the surrounding areas have raised money to bring the £2.4m neonatal unit at the hospital.

And now they can watch as their efforts become reality.

The Countess Charity, which spearheaded the fundraising campaign through events like the Chester Duck Race, will be uploading a photograph of the site every Friday, creating a timelapse gallery as the building rises from the ground. A new image will be added each Friday until the project is completed in early 2020.

The gallery can be viewed on the charity's Facebook page.

When planning permission was granted at the end of last year, Acting Chief Executive Susan Gilby said: “We are delighted that our revised plans have been approved by the elected members. This development, which has been funded through the hard work of our local community, will make a huge difference to the most sick, premature and vulnerable babies born in Chester.

“Thank you to everyone who supported our Countess Charity’s hugely successful Babygrow Appeal to make it happen. We remain mindful of our responsibilities to our neighbours and while the development gets under way we will continue to look at ways to limit disruption to those who live nearby.”