A charity concert is to be held on Wednesday to help fund the transformation of Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital into a community centre.

The fundraising concert, which will feature the Caerphilly Ladies Choir and soloists Laura Bonar (violin) and Chris Manners (piano), will be held at the Wesley Chapel on Crescent Road, Caerphilly on Wednesday February 16 at 7.30pm.

Caerphilly District Miners’ Hospital will be closed down once the new £172.7m Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital is opened in autumn this year.

Much of the hospital site will be turned into affordable housing with the historic Beeches building, built in 1924, set to become a community centre.

The building was paid for by the miners of the Rhymney Valley after they each put aside 6d out of their weekly wage of 12s 6d to raise the £30,000 needed.

The Labour Minister for Health and Social Services Edwina Hart AM, will be attending and speaking at the fundraising event.

Labour AM for Caerphilly Jeff Cuthbert, who is also chair of the Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee, said: “I am delighted that the Minister has found time out of her extremely busy schedule to come observe the project and meet some of our local activists.

“She has been extremely supportive of the project since its inception and the project would have faltered by now without her backing.”

Tickets are £5 and for children £2.50 and are available at the Tourist Information Centre in Caerphilly, from members of the choir or from Katherine Hughes on 02920 886569.