After almost 10 years of waiting, long periods of legal wrangling, and £1.7million of publicly raised money, work has finally begun on the last part of a community hospital.

Construction work restarted at Cobham Community Hospital, on Friday, October 21 thanks to the efforts of a determined group of residents.

In 1996 the Friends of Cobham Community Hospital (FCCH) raised £1.2million to finance a new community hospital.

The money was given to the NHS but the hospital was not completed and work was abandoned in 1998.

FCCH had to take legal action against Epsom Hospital when it sold the community hospital to Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust.

After six years of campaigning, the group managed to get the work to start again after £1.1million of the original £1.2million was returned to them to put back into health services in Cobham.

Louise Staples, chairman of the FCCH, said she was delighted the efforts of so many residents over so many years were going to pay off. She said: "It's a huge relief. We've worked so hard for this and it's just such a great feeling that the work has started at long last."

Alan Kennedy, chief executive at East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT, said: "Our thanks go to the hard work and determination of the Friends of Cobham Hospital.

"Without them, this project would not have been possible."

MP for Esher and Walton, Ian Taylor, who announced the start of the building on the hospital on Friday, said: "The best projects are those that are rooted in their local community.

"The Cobham Community Hospital has been conceived, designed, contracted and financed here in Cobham. That is why I am confident that the services it provides will be exactly what our local residents need."

benl@london.newsquest.co.uk