A road on the Colchester Hospital site will be closed overnight tonight for crane lifting works.

The road in front of Gainsborough Wing will be closed in both directions from this evening, Wednesday, 13 February, at 6.30pm until 6am tomorrow morning.

The closure is necessary so some containers, which are outside Gainsborough Wing, can be lifted by a crane and moved into a space next to Medical Records.

It is part of preparatory works for project IRCA (interventional radiology and cardiac angiography). The trust has applied to Colchester Council for planning permission to demolish and relocate the existing bed store to make way for a new, £7million combined IRCA unit.

The two-storey unit, which will be sandwiched between the main hospital building and restaurant block, will mean patients can benefit from quicker diagnosis and care in a specialist suite.

During tonight’s road closure the Northern Approach Road entrance will be open at the back of Gainsborough Wing for access to the Radiotherapy Centre, Breast Unit and Constable Wing.

Colne Valley Building Services will be on site for the duration of the work to make sure both staff and patients are kept safe and away from the area while the crane movements are taking place.

They will also be on hand to re-direct any patients or members of the public to the Northern Approach Road.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused."