A POPULAR Airedale Hospital hearing specialist is leaving for a new post on the west coast.

Senior audiologist Alan Walshaw, who was commended in the UK Audiologist of the Year awards five times, will work for the Morecambe Bay NHS trust.

Mr Walsh has worked the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust for 12 years.

He said: “I have worked for Airedale for over 12 years, and become a firm favourite with the local population we serve.

“I have been unable to tell every single patient I will miss them. I want the locals to know I have tried to reach out to all of them to say goodbye.”

Mr Walshaw, who cares for those with hearing difficulties, was in 2014 given a certificate for his achievement in the UK Audiologist of the Year awards.

He became the only person to be commended in the awards for five consecutive years.