Residents in Tyersal are wishing good health on a new pharmacy finally set to open in their neighbourhood after almost two years of campaigning.

Pharmacist Rajan Gupta first put in a bid to open a chemist in Tyersal Road in December 2003 but only got the go-ahead this year.

Despite winning the support of local community groups and health schemes, Mr Gupta's plans for the pharmacy were opposed by three other chemists who claimed there was no need for a fourth.

Mr Gupta, 29, who lives in Pudsey, said: "I spent a lot of time talking to the community about their needs and they all agreed that they needed me."

Last year more than 1,000 signatures were collected for a petition calling on Leeds West Primary Care Trust to grant Mr Gupta a licence.

Finally last October, Mr Gupta had an appeal hearing at the Trust. Four months later, the plan was approved.

And today the pharmacy will open for business, and to celebrate Mr Gupta is throwing a party and has invited supporters from the community to cut the ribbon.

"I could not have done it without them. It was a huge relief when the Trust decided it would be desirable to have a pharmacy here," he said.

Joan Sharpe, chairman of the William Sutton Community Association, said: "We were all thrilled when Mr Gupta approached us in 2003 to see if we wanted a pharmacy. The nearest one to us is almost a mile away and it's not the easiest of bus routes.

"Tyersal Action Group and the Surestart scheme were all for it too. We got together and supported him all the way."

A spokesman for Leeds Primary Care Trust said: "It doesn't usually take that long to get a licence but because other retailers were opposed it had to go through an appeal process. The PCT fully supports Mr Gupta's pharmacy."