AN additional 100 car parking spaces will be available for the use of patients, staff and visitors at Noble's Hospital from next month.

They will be located at the Ballafletcher fields on the right hand side of the main hospital driveway - opposite the main car park.

The spaces have been provided as part of the sports pitch and clubhouse development on Ballafletcher fields, with the land released by the then Department of Health and Social Security to the then Department of Tourism and Leisure.

The Ballafletcher Sports Centre is being developed by the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, with an investment of £1.8 million.

Both staff and patients will be encouraged to use the new spaces during the day, relieving pressure on the existing main car park and staff car parks located at Noble’s Hospital.

Community, Culture and Leisure Minister David Cretney MHK said: "As I was Minister for Tourism and Leisure when this arrangement was put in place I am delighted to be back to see it through.

"The new pitches at Ballafletcher will be a fantastic new sporting facility and I am pleased that we have been able to work with the Department of Health in expanding Noble’s Hospital’s car parking facilities even before the new facility is open.

"Whilst the spaces are required by the users of the pitches at the weekends and in the evenings, they can be used during the busy daytime period as parking for Noble’s Hospital."