HEALTH staff at Darwen Health Centre's pharmacy are hoping for good news in 2005 as they nervously await the outcome of an appeal.

More than 300 people signed a petition backing the employees in their bid to transfer to the town's new health centre when it opens in May.

And lead petitioner Andrew Brighton, of Brighton Terrace, has received confirmation from the Family Health Services Appeals Authority, based in Harrogate, that the petition will be taken into account when a decision is made.

Staff at the pharmacy, which has been part of the health centre since it opened in 1977, said they needed all the support they could get after they were told they would not be automatically transferring to the new centre.

Mr Brighton, whose daughter works at the pharmacy, said: "We were expecting a decision to be made by now so we can only presume it has been delayed because of the Christmas period.

"Neither myself nor the staff have been given a date so it's just a case of waiting now."