PEOPLE will have something to get their teeth into after a new dental service opened its doors at Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn this week.

The Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust has opened the long-awaited service after investing £45,000 on new equipment and recruiting qualified staff.

It is expected to see as many as 200,000 people and offers appointments for those not registered with a dentist.

Director of commissioning for the PCT, Janet Ledward, said the service had been set up with the help of East Lancashire Health Authority and the community dental team at CommuniCare NHS Trust.

Head of primary care development for East Lancashire Health Authority, Derek Cummins, said: "I am very pleased that this service is now available. It is an important element in our wider strategy for NHS dental services."

To contact the service, telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.