Babies have been born in a Middlesbrough hospital instead

The ward at Guisborough General Hospital closed on 17 November 2002 because it could not recruit enough midwives.

Mothers-to-be have had to travel 25 minutes away to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, to give birth.

It is feared it could still take months or even years to recruit enough staff to run the unit, despite a recommendation by an inquiry team that the unit should open as soon as possible.

The outcome of the investigation by a select committee was made public on Wednesday.

Councillor Vilma Collins, chair of the select committee, said: "One of our recommendations was that it is opened as soon as possible, but it has to be safe."

'Crystal ball'

South Tees NHS Trust, said it was working hard to recruit more midwives.

But Fran Toller, from the Trust, told BBC Look North she could not give an exact date when the unit would be ready to reopen.

She said: "I can't give you a definitive answer on that.

"We have been very successful in the last three months in getting seven whole-time equivalents, will the next three months give us that same equivalent to fill the deficit? I haven't got the answer to that.

"It all depends on whether we can attract people to the service, when students qualify and who decides to move into the area.

"It is an unknown quantity, sadly. I would love to have a crystal ball and give an exact date, but I can't do that."