THE impressive steel skeleton of the area's new £12m maternity unit is nearly complete following months of construction.

But the first of thousands of bricks that will go on to create the state-of-the-art building at Furness General Hospital has now also been laid thanks to a donation from a generous fundraiser.

John Herrmann, from Ainslie Street in Barrow, purchased the first brick in a charity auction held in aid of the ambitious BayB Maternity Appeal, which aims to raise £250,000 by December in order to buy kit and equipment for the unit.

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BAE Systems worker Mr Herrmann, 59, has now dedicated the block, which forms the cornerstone of the foundations facing the forthcoming bereavement garden, to his late brother Christopher Herrmann, from Dalton, who died last year, aged 56.

Mr Herrmann said: "My brother led quite a sheltered life.

"He suffered from epilepsy, which got him down.

"I don’t have any children of my own so buying the brick in my brother’s name and having it as part of the fabric of the new unit is special for me."

The brick bears Christopher's name and will be used on-site once construction workers begin the next phase of the build.

A photo of Mr Herrmann presenting the brick to maternity staff and hospital fundraising bosses will then be framed and hung in the foyer once the doors finally open to families of the area.

Construction is on track to complete the building by its December deadline.

The charity auction took place during a ball held in aid of the BayB Maternity Appeal at Abbey House Hotel, in Barrow, in January.

Mr Herrmann secured the chance to dedicate the unit's first brick to his brother with a top bid of £450.

A host of other experiences and prizes also up for grabs on the night helped net a total of £7,000 for the appeal.

The money will be used to buy equipment not affordable to the NHS but that will make a difference to the experience of families using the unit and give mums and babies the best start possible.

The wishlist includes three birthing pools, TV screens, music docking stations and to kit out a room allowing parents to stay over if their baby is too poorly to go home.

There are also plans to purchase a computerised mannequin capable of simulating a variety of birth complications to be used as an advanced training aid for medics and midwives.

So far, more than £25,000 has been raised towards the target with a series of fundraising and sponsored events planned.

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