The hunt has begun to find 21 people to help get a troubled hospital trust back on track.

Members of the public and staff of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust are being urged to consider standing to become a governor.

Halstead residents will have the chance to find out more at a public information event this week, ahead of a postal ballot in March and April.

The meeting takes place at Queens Hall, on Chipping Hill, Halstead, at 6.30pm tomorrow.

Dr Sally Irvine, who chairs the council of governors and board of directors, said: “I am convinced that the involvement of public and staff governors and having an elected council of governors has helped us to improve the services we provide.

“I want as many of our members as possible to become involved in the elections and I encourage anyone who can give their time and experience to consider standing to become a governor.

“These are difficult times that the trust is going through and there is a need for strong, independent and committed people to help it through.”

The trust is currently without a permanent chief executive following the resignation of Dr Gordon Coutts last month.

The elections will find 15 public governors across Colchester, Halstead, the Colne Valley and Tendring, and six staff governors.

Public governors will be chosen by the 6,763 members of the trust.

To find out more, e-mail ft.membership@colchesterhospital.nhs.uk or call 08000 515143.