AN appeal to raise £100,000 for Airedale Hospital's state-of-the-art new emergency department has reached its target.

It was launched almost exactly a year ago to pay for facilities including distraction walls, an interactive floor in the children’s waiting area and resources to help dementia patients.

And funds have also bought potentially-lifesaving equipment, including cardiac monitors for general assessment areas.

Meg Crossley, a consultant in emergency medicine at the hospital and project lead, paid tribute to everyone who had backed the appeal.

"We have had tremendous support from the whole community," she said.

"We are delighted to have achieved our target thanks to the generosity of local people, businesses and our own staff, who have given donations and spent time organising a whole host of activities to help boost our funds.

"We're very grateful for the help of our sponsors who backed the appeal from the start, but also to those who came on board throughout the year to make sure we have an emergency department that really is fit for the 21st century."

The new £6 million emergency department – which includes separate adult and children's waiting areas and a quiet room for use by friends and families – opened its doors in December, but an official opening will take place at a celebratory event on May 12.