Red-faced health chiefs have admitted services at a new hospital are still not working.

Large sections of the Fryatt Hospital and Mayflower Medical Centre remain unused - three months after the £12 million building opened.

The North East Essex Primary Care Trust, which runs most services at the hospital, has assured patients it wants to sort out the problems as soon as possible.

The faulty services include not a single operation having taken place at the new theatre, kitchens closed with food having to be brought in from Colchester, regular closing of the minor injuries unit due to staff shortages and faulty X-ray machines.