A NESTON equine hospital’s £1.5 million improvement is to be given the royal seal of approval.

Princess Anne will visit The Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital at Leahurst tomorrow morning to open a new reception, entrance yard and MRI facility.

She will also be given a tour of the University of Liverpool-run hospital where she will meet veterinary surgeons and be shown an operation on a horse.

The hospital is one of the busiest equine referral centres in the country and sees more than 2,000 cases every year.

Peter Bowling, head of the university’s equine division, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Princess Royal to open our new entrance yard, reception and MRI facility.

“Students, staff and clients will benefit from the waiting room, offices and study areas, and the new MRI facility will enable us to use the latest diagnostic imaging techniques and further research into musculoskeletal conditions.”

In the second phase of the development project the hospital aims to raise £6 million to develop a Colic Prevention and Performance Centre.

Colic is the single most common cause of death in horses.

Chris Proudman, professor of equine studies, added: “We have already received very generous support for the next phase of the project from charitable trusts and we hope that this will continue so that we can further build on our internationally recognised expertise in the treatment and prevention of colic.”

Princess Anne is a frequent visitor to the borough – this is her fourth visit in as many years.

Last year she visited Bowater’s Bridgewater mill in Ellesmere Port and Craxton Wood Hotel in Ledsham.

In 2005, she opened the new Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Ellesmere Port.