HEALTH bosses have allayed fears that Ribble Valley patients will be left out in the cold after an Accrington dentist pledged to take his 5,000 patients to a new surgery in Whalley.

Concerned villagers fear the new practice, in King Street, will exclude local patients and contribute to the village's already congested road system.

Dentists Roger Griffiths and John Ellison will move from a former NHS surgery in Accrington and have pledged to take all their existing patients with them.

But, following an outcry from Whalley residents, they revealed they hope to welcome new patients from the Ribble Valley.

Mr Griffiths said: "Initially our priority was to preserve NHS dental care for our existing patients.

"However, when we know exactly how many patients are transferring with us will we increase our list for local residents up to the 5,000 maximum.

"Our long term aim would then be to increase our list even further."

A spokesman for Hyndburn and Accrington Primary Care Trust described the new dentist as 'a positive move'.

He added: "We feel that on balance the health benefits to local residents in gaining an opportunity to access NHS care far outweigh any possible pitfalls."

Ribble Valley councillors last month voted to grant the King Street proposal planning permission.

Like the rest of East Lancashire, the Ribble Valley is in crisis over the lack of NHS dentists.

It has just two practices, forcing patients to travel as far as Southport.

Ivan Hargreaves, a King Street resident, said: "Whalley's chaotic traffic and parking bedlam is about to be compounded by the infliction of a new business that will have no discernable benefit for local people."