More than 10,000 readers have backed the Stoke Sentinel's campaign to get a new hospital built in North Staffordshire.

Within a week of petitions being made available at newsagents, readers have flocked to put their signature to the appeal.

And some shopkeepers have been forced to ask the Sentinel for extra petition forms after running out of space for signatures.

The newspaper launched its appeal to put pressure on Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who has to make a decision in the spring about whether to build a new hospital.

The Government has money to build 18 new hospitals but 24 areas have submitted applications.

The Sentinel believes Stoke should be an automatic choice and plans to highlight this in a series of features.

All five North Staffordshire MPs are supporting the campaign.

Stoke South MP George Stevenson said: "For years now we have been pressing for a new hospital because in spite of the developments which have taken place, it is a split site and many of the buildings are Victorian."

Calum Paton, Chairman of the North Staffordshire Hospital Trust, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that local people are very much behind the campaign. It is so vital we get a new hospital."

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