THIS is the last chance to phone in your vote on the future name of what will be Swindon's general hospital for the 21st century.

Phone lines close at lunchtimetoday, although the deadline for e-mails and postal votes is not until January 18.

Health service staff have nominated the shortlist of five favourite names for the cutting edge £148m facility which is scheduled to open at Commonhead in 2002.

The names in the shortlist reflect Swindon's great industrial heritage and geography.

The names being considered are:

The Great Western

The Brunel

Swindon District l

Swindon and Wiltshire

North Wiltshire

Swindon mayor Arthur Archer, a former railwayman of 42 years' service, has already put in his wish for the name to be The Great Western Hospital.

And the name which evokes so much of what generations of people were proud to be a part of is also the favourite of Swindon Borough Council leader Sue Bates.

She reminds us that that is the name of the original hospital in town which was built by GWR for its workers.

Pensioners' campaigner Frank Avenell, 79, of Beck-hampton Street, is voting for Swindon and Wiltshire Hospital.

Frank said: "It accurately describes what it is. Anyone arriving here would know exactly what it relates to. We've got plenty of references to Brunel, what with the statue in the Brunel Centre and the STEAM museum."

The Evening Advertiser is putting the casting vote on which of these names is best to the people and since our phone poll was launched on Monday we have had hundreds of people call to make their choice.

There are three ways in which you can give your vote.

You can call one of our telephone lines (see above) or cast your vote on our website www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk. Alternatively you can write to Hospital Vote, Editor's secretary, Evening Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE.

Votes should reach us by January 18, 2001, and the Trust will be announcing the winning name at its next meeting on January 26, 2001.