A state-of-the-art video conferencing suite at Airedale Hospital was officially opened this week in memory of a Haworth teenager who died from breast cancer.

Sarah McKie's parents Ann and Malcolm, of Cliffe Street, Haworth, unveiled the new facilities in celebration of their daughter last Friday .

Malcolm said: "Today is a very emotional day. It's a combination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people.

"We are not martyrs -- if this helps somebody to avoid what we went through, great."

Ann thanked her brother Alan Barrett for his tremendous efforts throughout the period of the appeal and added: "Alan was a bit of a driving force behind all this and without him it wouldn't have happened. Sarah would be very proud today."

The new Sarah McKie suite was made possible through a £100,000 gift from the Sarah McKie Memorial Fund.

Fundraising events and competitions supported by local businesses, organisations and individuals throughout Yorkshire helped raise the cash.

A large amount of the money raised came from the independent co-operative United Co-operatives Ltd.

Ali Nejim, consultant surgeon at Airedale Hospital, said: "This new suite is going to be a massive help.

"Sarah was a very pleasant 18-year old and after her diagnosis, became very involved in fundraising -- I think it is a very fitting tribute to her memory. The patients will very much benefit from this facility and I would like to thank Ann and Martin and everybody else involved in this great project.

Consultant Dr Phillip da Costa told guests at the ceremony that the new facilities would help streamline and speed up the treatment process.

Features include radiology and microscopic projection facilities, a high-resolution visual presenter, several high-powered computers and video-conferencing equipment -- allowing Airedale cancer teams to link up with others around the region.

Sarah died in June, 2001. Her memorial fund was set up in November of that year.