It will be the end of an era when the doors of High Royds Hospital finally close but staff are determined to make it a memorable occasion.

The former West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum first opened in 1888 and on February 25 the doors will be closed on more than a 100 years of history.

Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust is planning a series of celebrations to mark the closure of the Menston hospital.

A thanksgiving service, historic tours and a gala will be on offer to residents and staff.

The thanksgiving service will be held on Sunday at 2pm in the hospital chapel and members of the public are welcome to attend.

Artist-in-residence Paul Digby will be talking to former employees about their memories of the hospital and featuring them in a painting which will be displayed in the library two weeks prior to closure.

A gala evening will be held for staff at Pennington's Club, in Bradford, on March 27.

People will be able to take home a piece of history when an auction is held on Thursday, March 20, which will see many of the original items of furniture and fixture go under the hammer.

Anyone interested in a catalogue should contact Hilditch Auctioneers on (01666) 822577.

High Royds Hospital is recognised as one of the last remaining psychiatric hospitals of its kind still functioning.

It was the third establishment of its kind in the former West Riding of Yorkshire, the other two being Wakefield Asylum 1818, later renamed Stanley Royds, and Wadsley Asylum 1872, later renamed Middlewood Hospital.

The hospital site included at one stage a library, surgery, dispensary, ballroom, butchers, dairies, and bakers.

By the 1930's a sweet shop, cobbler, upholsterer and a tailor were all added turning the hospital into a small self-contained village.

Tours of High Royds are available today and tomorrow between 9.30am to 3.15pm lasting 45 minutes, anyone interested can call (0113) 3056202.

The closure of High Royds Hospital will be completed when the remaining wards are moved to The Mount in Leeds City Centre.

The 96 bed unit, which will be officially opened later this year, signifies the end of the first stage of Leeds Mental Health Teaching Trust's programme of reprovision which has already seen the opening of several new mental health units including the Becklin Centre which replaced the Roundhay Wing at St James Hospital at the beginning of December 2002.

Director of Mental Health Nigel Fenny said: "The closure of High Royds Hospital marks the end of an era for the Trust.

"High Royds Hospital has been associated with Mental Health care in the City of Leeds for over 100 years. We are pleased that we can offer staff both past and present the opportunity to visit the site and mark the closure of this historic site.

"The events to mark the closure will signify a new beginning for Mental Health Care in Leeds.

The £47 million pound reprovision process has seen the Trust move out of old fashioned and outdated facilities into state-of-the-art units.

Everybody involved in the process, which has taken over three years, deserves congratulations for what is a fantastic achievement."