MULTI-MILLION pound repair works have been completed at Whiston Hospital.

Just three years after first opening its doors a routine inspection of the hospital found a problem with the exterior cladding.

The repair work, which started in May 2013, affected every elevation of the building across numerous areas and cost in excess of £20m.

A spokesperson from St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said because the hospital was built with private finance money the bill for the repairs was met by a building contractor.

Ann Marr chief executive of the Trust said: "I'm delighted the repair works have finished ahead of schedule and our award winning Whiston Hospital is back to looking good when it opened almost six years ago."