CHEERING supporters celebrated the highly-anticipated unveiling of Berrow's new £2.5million health campus this week.

Nearly four years after the plans were first revealed, the new centre in Brent Road is now up and running and serving patients from all over the local area.

Jane Barrie, chairman of NHS Somerset, joined practice staff, doctors, and project architects GVA to unveil a commemorative stone on Friday.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: berrow7 The 14,000sq ft campus includes a new GP branch surgery, large consultation and treatment rooms for the 12 GPs and 12-strong nursing and health care assistant team, a pharmacy, an NHS dental practice, and day services for the elderly and dementia sufferers.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: berrow3 Patients have been using the services since May 9 and the centre promises to ease the pressure on the Burnham Medical Centre in Love Lane and bring significantly improved health facilities to the local community.

Dr Harvey Sampson, practice chairman, at Burnham Medical Centre, said: “This opening brings our dream of the most modern healthcare facilities for Berrow to fruition.

“We are all delighted with the new health campus, which will operate alongside our existing facilities at Love Lane.”

Architects GVA say the rural setting inspired the building's design and that light oak effect timber cladding helped the building fit in with the local environment.

The Somerset Primary Care Trust says the campus will improve joint working among healthcare professionals.