delays to the opening of Colne Health Centre should be ‘kept to a minimum’, Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson says.

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed on Saturday that the £4.2million centre in Craddock Road was still yet to open because of a wait on legal contracts being finalised.

In January, Mr Stephenson wrote to the Department of Health to raise his concerns about the delay in the opening of the centre.

He was told that the delay was down to the four GP surgeries that were moving into the centre negotiating with NHS England over funding to pay for their rent.

Mr Stephenson said: “I am hopeful that any delays will be kept to a minimum as I am keen that patients can benefit from this big investment in local health care as soon as possible.”