HEALTH Secretary Jeremy Hunt has promised to support Colchester's beseiged hospital if he remains in the job after the General Election - but he said investment had to be underpinned by sound economics.

Mr Hunt visited Colchester General Hospital yesterday to support the Conservative's Parliamentary candidate Will Quince in his bid to win the Colchester seat.

He was given a tour of the hospital's midwifery department by Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust's interim chief executive Dr Lucy Moore and consultant obstetrician and divisional director for women's and children's services Jo Osborne.

And speaking to the Gazette, he acknowledged the need to invest in the hospital in what is one of the country's fastest growing towns.

Read the full report in tomorrow's Gazette.