AN EAST Lancashire man is opening the UK’s first ever supermarket dental surgery.

Lance Knight, who grew up in Cambridge Avenue in Hapton, has teamed up with retail giant Sainsbury’s to offer in-store tooth care from next week.

And the 31-year-old has revealed that he hopes to open a similar supermarket practice in East Lancashire following the pilot in the Sainsbury’s store in Sale, Greater Manchester.

Former Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School pupil Lance is known as a dentist to the stars after offering treatment to celebrities including Caprice and Shaun Ryder at his practice in Manchester.

But he says he now wants to give something back to the ‘common man’ - by offering non-NHS check-ups from just £16.

He said: “I have got practices in Manchester and Harley Street in London and I work with a lot of celebrities but I wanted to give something back to the man in the street.

“There is now such a shortage of dentists and people are even leaving this country to get quality care - that’s appalling.

“We have introduced a cheaper practice for private care, with check-ups at £16 and £30 for a white filling.”

Lance is confident the Sale in-store surgery will prove a success and wants to work with Sainsbury’s to open more around the country, including in Burnley’s Active Way store.

“I would love to bring it back to Burnley because it is a community service,” he added.

“I was happy to work with Sainsbury’s because it is a pioneer in healthcare.

“It was the first supermarket to open an in-store GP surgery and so I am happy with them as a partner.”

Lance also insists dentists should work around people’s busy lives and he says his practices will be open Saturdays and Sundays and until 8pm on weekdays.

David Gilder, from Sainsbury’s, said: “There is a shortage of dental practices in the UK and the launch of this new service goes some way to providing local people with greater access to dental advice and a range of procedures.”

Last year, it was revealed that thousands of dental places in East Lancashire are unfilled following Government action to find vacancies at NHS practices.

However, Lance and Sainsbury’s say their £16 check-up would still be cheaper than an NHS one.