THE dental crisis in Rossendale has been thrust into the spotlight once again after another dentist left the Valley.

This is the second NHS dentist to leave Rossendale in just a month -- leaving thousands of patients without any dental provision in the area.

One family, the Chapmans from Waterfoot, say their plight now symbolises that of dental patients left without a practice.

The family say they felt the brunt of the latest departure after being told they face travelling more than 30 miles to the next available dentist.

Lynne Chapman, who has three children -- Laura, 14, Leah, 12, and Bailey, two -- said she is outraged after receiving a letter from Denpoint Dental Care, Bacup Road, Waterfoot, telling her she would need to register at another surgery.

Lynne, who lives in Crabtree Avenue, has been registered at Denpoint, formerly Wood's for the past 20 years. She said: "It's my children who I am really concerned about. I think it is vital that they have regular check-ups and get treatment. I have always made sure I keep to my appointments and have never missed one in my life."

She added: "I am not going to be someone who will be pushed aside. We have been told the nearest available surgery is Clitheroe, which is just ludicrous.

"I have spoken to at least three other families who are in the same position, who are all equally worried about the current situation."

The situation has been addressed recently with the Department of Health announcing last month that it is to fund two salaried dentists to serve Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. The department secured funding from the East Lancashire Public Health Network for £163,602.

One dentist is likely to be based at St Nicholas's Health Centre in Burnley with the other vacancy yet to be determined. Lynne added: "We have contacted all the local dentists and they just don't have room for more patients. If it comes to it we will write to the Prime Minister."

One of the practice's three remaining principle dentists, Michael Duffy, said: "One of the dentists has left and everybody is working flat out. There is no capability for us to be able to absorb those patients. We are looking at whether there might be a way to offer some treatment but we cannot take on all the NHS work."