COUNCIL chiefs will be updated on the impact of closing the walk in centre at Accrington Victoria hospital.

East Lancs Clinical Commissioning Group officials will present a report on the closure to Hyndburn Council scrutiny committee members on Thursday.

The centre closed in June last year despite thousands of people petitioning the CCG in a bid to try and keep it open.

Protestors said the closure of the facility would have a ‘detrimental effect’ and put more pressure on the A&E department at Royal Blackburn Hospital and the minor injuries unit at Accrington Victoria.

At the time the centre closed, CCG bosses said it would not affect the minor injuries unit, x-ray or any other in-patient or out-patient service delivered from the hospital.

They said GP services would remain available 24/7 through patients' own GP practice as usual or by ringing 111 at weekends or after 6.30pm week days.

The plan to close the walk-in centre, which had 44,000 patients in 2016, had been postponed six times before it finally went ahead.