A MENTAL health hospital has been rewarded for the quality of their care to children and teenagers.

The Priory Hospital Chelmsford, in Stump Lane, Springfield, has been given top marks by the Royal College of Psychiatry’s Quality Network for Inpatients for their child and adolescents unit.

Paul Bentham, the unit's line director, said it was a "thrill" to have the hospital's work recognised in this way.

Mr Bentham said: "The accreditation is viewed internationally as a quality mark on the care the unit provides, the process is rigorous and by achieving this it means the service has provided evidence on the provision of quality care as well as assuring the service that the young people and their carers are confident in the facilities and care."