Doctors in Didcot are confident a new multi-million pound health centre will be built - but say the town will need to pull together to make it happen.

According to the GPs leading the project, building work must start by November or a fragile funding agreement will be lost.

The current plan is to demolish the ageing health centre in Britwell Road and build a new £4m facility.

If the plans come to fruition it will be a happy end to the GPs' six-year struggle to find a new home.

A special meeting of the health centre's patient group has been called tonight to discuss the issue.

GPs will outline the situation and ask for patients' cooperation during the development phase.

Residents will also be asked what they want from the new health centre.

Dr David Ebbs, who is leading the project, said all parties involved had worked hard to reach an agreement.

But he said doctors now faced a race against time to secure the funding and would need support from the community to get the project off the ground.

He said: "We will have to go at breakneck speed. We have to get a planning application accepted and we're still designing the building. We're yet to reach an agreement with Didcot Town Council about the siting of a temporary building.

"There are major hurdles to overcome and that requires everyone to work together."

The new health centre will bring together existing services on the site and those provided at the Ashbury Surgery.

Dr Ebbs said: "The current building is not a modern facility for the provision of modern healthcare."

The Patient Participation Group's annual meeting and special meeting about the New Health Centre will be at Didcot Health Centre at 7.30pm.