FORMER patients at the Great Western Hospital's intermediate care centre have been welcomed back to help celebrate its first birthday.

The £6m 60-bed ward is used as a place to convalesce for people who have undergone operations and as such alleviates pressure on the main hospital.

Massages and exercise sessions were on offer during Saturday's celebrations.

Using items such as special glasses and gloves people had the chance to see what it is like to live with impaired vision and mobility difficulties.

Swindon mayoress, Pam Benfield, recently experienced the benefits of the unit first hand when she spent time recuperating from a minor stroke.

Her husband and mayor, Coun Derek Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe), said: "I hold this unit in the highest esteem."