RESIDENTS have hit out after it was announced that a mobile dental surgery was being withdrawn.

Last week users of the service in Earby received a letter from the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT) informing them that the service had been withdrawn.

The mobile surgery has been visiting the town for the past five years on Mondays and Wednesdays but the PCT say it was only meant to be a temporary solution.

Councillor David Whipp, who campaigned for the introduction of the service, said: "Axing this service is completely unacceptable. We fought to get the mobile unit provided so that people in rural areas, including Earby, could access an NHS dentist.

"The letter says that the 'temporary' service has been withdrawn, but it was put in as a permanent provision by the then Pendle Primary Care Trust. There's been two reorganisations of the health authorities since then. They have lost sight of the local service initially intended.

"I have asked for this issue to be discussed at the next West Craven area committee, which got this in the first place."

Doris Haigh, who also campaigned for the introduction of the service, said: "This is just not on."

A spokesman for the PCT said that only 300 people had accessed the service in the last two years, most of those coming from outside Earby.

He said: "We have increased NHS dental capacity enormously in a permanent location in Barnoldswick.

"This was specifically designed to serve both Barnoldswick and Earby residents.

"This has agreed to take on all the Earby patients who have accessed the mobile unit."