RESIDENTS in rural East Lancashire could be forced to travel to major towns for free eye tests because of Government reforms, opticians have warned.

And smaller opticians may be forced to go private to survive, leaving patients out in the cold, mirroring the UK's dental crisis, they said.

The fears have been raised after the Government said eye care should be arranged by local health authorities, which would have a wider choice of which opticians to use, including more competitive high street firms.

But optician David Gould said this would force people in towns such as Rawtenstall, Haslingden and Bacup, to travel to large towns such as Blackburn, Burnley, Bury and Rochdale.

And the number of people travelling for treatment would force smaller opticians to go private to survive, meaning they would stop taking NHS patients such as the over 60s and people on benefits, he said.

Mr Gould, who has premises in Bank Street, Rawtenstall, and Deardengate, Haslingden, said: "We could still make a living if we went private but morally we don't feel that is the right thing to do.

"Also, given the choice of having to drive to Blackburn or Burnley, people will think 'I am not going to do that, I am going to go private'."

And he warned primary care trusts, which pay for all health care including hospital treatment, may be torn between which health services come first.

At the moment eye care services are arranged by the Government's General Ophthalmic Service. There are three PCTs in East Lancashire.

He said: "It is unlikely that eye care will be given any sort of priority by PCTs.

"Should funds be diverted to high priority needs such as cancer care, the PCT will inevitably end up in an overspend situation and, if the funds have dried up, what will happen to patients requiring eye care?"

Clive Crowther, who runs an opticians in Market Street, Bacup, added: "If the PCTs are given the authority to grant contracts there is a possibility that when the purse strings get strapped they will want to contract to the cheapest providers and they will be the big chain businesses."