THE Tory hoping to be Darwen's next MP has slammed Labour's record over dental care.

Nigel Adams rubbished claims by Labour MP Janet Anderson that the town's dental service will improve during the next 12 to 18 months.

The prospective parliamentary candidate spoke out after it was announced a package of schemes to bring more NHS dentists to Darwen was being put in place by Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust.

Mr Adams said: "Five years ago Tony Blair promised everyone the chance to go back on the NHS to see their dentist.

"How long does Labour want to start making improvements?

"Like on most issues, the Government has failed to deliver. Its failure on dentistry is a frustrating reminder that Labour are all talk.

"The problem with the dental crisis is not exclusive to Darwen - hundreds of patients throughout Britain are forced to queue outside surgeries in order to see an NHS dentist, less than half of the adult population in England are registered with an NHS dentist and many patients who want to sign up actually can't because they are unable to find a dentist who will accept them.

"Wide inequalities in oral health still persist and more and more dentists are abandoning the NHS as they have to work under increasingly difficult conditions.

"The Conservative Party will deliver an ambitious action plan for dentistry in Darwen. Our proposals will build up a relationship for patients with a general dental practice and will also focus on the need for preventative oral health."