A 1,000-day countdown to the opening of a new state-of-the-art hospital to serve Sandwell residents has been marking with the unveiling of four special clocks.

The digital timepieces at the four main sites of the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust will herald the opening the Midland Met.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris unveiled the clock at Rowley Regis Hospital, saying he was “pleased” to join staff mark the milestone in the future of health services.

He said after four of the five closed wards at the Rowley Regis Hospital had reopened, the hospital would benefit from the deal to build the Midland Met in Smethwick.

He said: “We look forward to the opening of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, which will be providing state-of-the art care for local people and part of the deal secures more investment at Rowley.

“This has been a long time coming and I'm proud to have played my part in securing this £350 million invested in local health services."

Trust chairman Richard Samuda added: “Today is a historic one for our local communities, as we move within 1,000 days of the opening of our new hospital.

“Focusing acute beds on one site is something that our clinicians are particularly enthusiastic about as it will guarantee that we continue to provide, long into the future, the leading service we are so proud of.”