PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice's damning Commons motion on the planned closure of Diamond Smiles Dentist Practice to NHS patients less than three years after getting £30,000 from the NHS to support it has attracted the support of 60 MPs.

Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, Rossendale with Darwen's Janet Anderson and Hyndburn's Greg Pope are among those to have signed up.

The motion calls on Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT to introduce a new dentist in Barnoldswick to replace Mr Evans' surgery, which is going to be private only.

And it adds: "We understand the shock and dismay felt by many people in the town at the loss to the private sector of a dentist whose NHS credentials were paraded with such fanfare in 2001 when his practice opened; recalls that Mr Evans sought the help and assistance of the honourable Member for Pendle in securing a grant of £30,500 from the NHS to establish the practice, telling the honourable Member on 20th February 2001 that he felt 'there is a severe need in the Barnoldswick area for NHS dental provision."

Mr Prentice has promised big improvements in NHS dentistry in East Lancashire in the coming 12 months.

He said the Government's drive to rebuild NHS dentistry should start to be visible locally next year.

The Labour backbencher highlighted a new medical centre in Nelson and the new Sure Start Centre in Colne, both of which will have state of the art dental suites.

Mr Prentice said: "There are over 19,000 dentists, more than ever before. But they are spending less time on NHS work, which leaves some people unable to get the routine treatment they want on the NHS unless they are prepared to travel. Some dentists have opted out of NHS work completely -- even though they used NHS money to establish their practice."