A hospital is set to close its main entrance doors for ten weeks while it carries out a £70,000 refurbishment scheme.

The doors in main reception at Airedale General Hospital in Steeton will be shut as work begins to add extra doors in front of the current access.

The entrance should re-open by April 4 when work is scheduled for completion.

In the meantime an alternative entrance will be available via the external door across from the Ward 17 entrance.

This entrance will be fully sign-posted and will have extra lighting and improved wheelchair access. It will be open from 6am and will be locked at 10pm.

A spokesman for Airedale NHS Trust said: "During the refurbishment the main reception desk will remain open and the stairs and other access will not be affected.

"We do hope our patients and visitors will not be too inconvenienced during this work."

The work is being carried out to reduce the levels of heat lost through the single set of sliding doors. One special disabled parking bay is set to be relocated next to theatres during this period of work.

No other parking will be affected. The ambulance service has been advised and have been asked to re-route ambulance admissions via accident and emergency while the entrance is closed.