HUNDREDS of families will find out tomorrow if their bids to buy one of 22 former Ministry of Defence houses in Wroughton have been successful.

On Saturday scores of people went to have a final look at the three, four, five and six bedroom detached houses on the nine-acre site of the former Princess Alexandra Hospital, now owned by Defence Estates. The houses were being offered from £195,000.

Over the years the houses at Beranburh Field were used as a base by RAF and army medics stationed at the hospital.

Phil Holland, 49, manager of Old Town estate agents Dreweatt Neate, said: "This whole place has a certain ambience about it. The houses are situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty that would be difficult to find anywhere else in the area.

"A lot of interest has been generated we have had more than 2,500 inquiries about these properties.

"Today is the end of the marketing process. By 5.30pm tonight all bids must have been submitted to us in writing. And tomorrow a decision will be made on which ones will be accepted."

The house expected to have generated the most interest is the former commanding officer's home Ridgeway House a six-bedroom place with a south-facing garden overlooking the Ridgeway, which is expected to go for around £350,000.

Mr Holland said the house needed some repairs, but the fully restored property could fetch up to £700,000 on the market.

The Morris family of the Lawns were one of a number of people taking a final look at the property before submitting a final bid.

Accountant John Morris, 45, said: "This property is unusual because there isn't much like this around in Swindon. It's going to need a lot of work doing to it, but we have put in an offer and we will see what happens."

His wife Diana, 44, added: "It could be a dream home in five years time but we would need to start off with a blank canvass.

She said: "It's a lovely quiet area situated just out of the way, but within easy reach of the motorway and town centre."

More than 600 servicemen and women were treated at the hospital during the Falklands War in 1982.

Staff were drafted in to treat Gulf War victims in 1990 and British hostages John McCarthy and Terry Waite were treated at the hospital after their release in 1991.

Princess Alexandra's doors finally closed in 1995 as part of the Government's defence cutbacks.