A TYWYN community action group has officially opened a “marvellous” new X-ray department after funding the whole initiative themselves.

The Tywyn and District Memorial Hospital Appeal Fund raised an impressive £104,000 to secure the new department for the town’s hospital after a long campaign to install vital medical facilities in south Meirionnydd.

The X-ray department, which started treating patients six months ago, has already helped nearly 500 patients despite the fact the department is only open for two sessions a week.

The Appeal Fund Committee has served its community tirelessly for decades and was first established in 1972 in order to build a geriatric ward for the town’s hospital.

Having successfully raised the £32,000 necessary for the new wing, the committee continued its good work and has gone on to invest nearly half a million pounds (£492,000) on new medical equipment and facilities for Tywyn over the last four decades.

At an official plaque unveiling last week, chair of the Tywyn & District Memorial Hospital Appeal Fund Morgan Vaughan MBE said: “I’m honoured and indeed privileged to stand here before you after serving for 17 years as chair of this committee.

“I would like to thank all of the committee members for their full support in donating 100 per cent of the £104,000 necessary to fund this marvellous new X-ray department, it will doubtless be of benefit for the whole area.

“Notable thanks should go to Pat Youds, associate chief of staff for radiography at Betsi Cadwaladr, who has been incredibly supportive throughout the entire project.

“We have all worked very hard for the 5,500 patients who use this hospital and we will keep on battling to ensure the same level of health care provision for Tywyn as there is in other areas of the county.

“I’m sure the financial support offered is evidence of the esteem in which the hospital and staff are held by patients and the community in general.”