DARWEN MP Janet Anderson has promised to look into the lack of NHS dentists in her home town after a resident was told the nearest available NHS surgery was in Clitheroe.

The MP, who raised concerns in 2002 when a similar problem arose in Rossendale, has now written to the Department of Health about the problem.

She became concerned about the situation after the last remaining surgery accepting NHS patients, in the Sudell ward, went private earlier this year. She said: "I have received a letter from the Primary Care Trust which said it is putting together an action plan to make sure there is such medical provision within Blackburn with Darwen and that it would be completed by the end of March which we have reached now. I will be checking what has happened with this."

Resident Roy Davies, of Olive Lane, contacted Mrs Anderson after the dentist in Railway Road went private and he was told it would cost about £40 per month to cover himself, his wife and son on a private dental plan.

He said: "Something needs to be sorted out. We have got to get a guarantee that there will be more dentists available for us in Darwen."

Mr Davies used to be a patient at Van Russell dentist, in Sudell Road, until it went private and then moved on to Wrenall's, Railway Road, which has now also become a private surgery.