A DOCTOR'S practice in Stourport has officially become the first in the country to establish its own League of Friends.

Officials of York House Medical Centre, York Street, launched the ground-breaking group at an inaugural meeting earlier this month.

And while plans for the future are still being discussed, the practice is urging the public to support the venture by joining the league at its first activity on Saturday.

League chairman Roy Crowe said: "We had a really productive evening when the group was launched.

"We outlined some plans and objectives, but the key thing at the moment is to see the level of public support we get, starting by how many come to our coffee morning this weekend.

"The inspiration for us really is the success of Kidderminster Hospital's League of Friends which has achieved so much for needy people. Folk in Stourport are already talking about this."

Mr Crowe was joined by practice manager Richard Merrall, who is also the league's secretary, and Mike Conway, chief executive of the national League of Friends group, for the launch.

He added initial plans for the league, which will be made up of surgery patients and will depend heavily on fund-raising activities, included refurbishing the York House basement into a cardiovascular rehabilitation unit for heart attack victims.

Anyone interested in joining or discovering more information about the League of Friends can attend the coffee morning between 10.30am and 12.30pm or telephone 01299 827171.