Ambitious plans to revamp Tenbury’s Community Hospital have been unveiled, but the supporters will have to raise £500,000 to turn the dream into reality.

Members of the hospital’s League of Friends saw the plans for the first time last night and were said to be “very excited” by the revamp of the 16 bed facility.

The application for the hospital at Burford, near Tenbury, will also see the relocation of dining facilities, a covered seating area, landscaped gardens and adjustments to access and parking areas.

Friends’ chairman Jean Grosvenor said she hoped, providing permission was granted for the project, which is in conjunction with Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, work should begin at the site next spring.

“The wards that exist at the moment were put there in 1933, so an extension and more space will make the patients a lot more comfortable,” she said.

The application also includes widening the existing vehicle access and rearranging the parking.

Matron Ginny Snape said: “This is an ambitious, exciting project.”

The friends are kicking off a major fundraising campaign with a special lunch at Tenbury Show on August 1 in the members’ tent.

They will also have a stand at the show so people can find out more about the application.