TWO wards at Princess Alexandra Hospital will be officially re-named as the Henry Moore Unit on Wednesday, in tribute to the local sculptor and artist.

Henry Moore Foundation director Richard Calvocoressi will cut the ribbon which marks the formal re-naming of the wards.

The Foundation is based at the artist's former home near Much Hadham, and looks after collections and exhibitions of Moore's work, as well as giving grants to visual arts projects worldwide.

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust chairman Robert Powell said: “We are delighted and honoured to be able to name these wards after somebody who is world famous as an artist but who had such close links to Harlow and the surrounding area.

"The new unit provides general medicine including acute care, rehabilitation and palliative care.”

Mr Calvocoressi said: “It is a great honour to be invited to rename these wards the Henry Moore Unit. "Moore's long-standing relationship with Harlow began with the commission of his Harlow Family Group in 1954, and continued until his death, in particular through his close friendship with the town's master planner Frederick Gibberd and his wife, Patricia.

"The Henry Moore Foundation is delighted that the artist's regard for Harlow, and those who created it, is marked in this way today.”

Photographs of Henry Moore at work have been donated to the hospital by The Henry Moore Foundation and are now displayed on the wards.