Hundreds of NHS workers returned home to the former hospital site where they learnt their trades training.

Around 250 former employees of Black Notley Hospital travelled from across the world for a reunion with their friends and colleagues.

Hilda Franklin, who moved to the hospital from Lancashire at the age of 18 to start her nurse training, was the main organiser of the event.

She said: "It was fantastic, the whole day was wonderful.

"Everybody was really happy and there lots of chatting and reminiscing about our younger days.

"It was quite emotional because there was a lot of people who had not seen each other since the hospital closed.

"People had travelled from around the world to come to the event, which was unbelievable. I did not expect anything like it.

"It was like we were all returning home - because it was our home back then."

The hospital was first opened in 1904 as an isolation unit for people with smallpox. In 1930 a sanatorium was opened for people with tuberculosis.

Eventually it went on to become specialist orthopaedics and plastic surgery centre before its closure in 1998.

Mrs Franklin said: "Black Notley Hospital was a big part of Braintree and it was a very sad day for the town when it closed.

"Everyone was so willing to offer help with the planning.

"I have to say a big thanks you to John Collins who prepared a slideshow of all pictures for the event.

"There have already been a lot of request to do it again.

"I do not think it would be something we would do next year, but may in five years time or something."

A raffle held on the day raised £800 for Cancer Research UK and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.