PATIENTS queued in the street as a new NHS dentist opened for business in Bolton on Monday.

More than 20 people had gathered at the Blackburn Road surgery by 8.45am to make an appointment - 45 minutes before the surgery was due to open.

Mark Cohen, who has a practice in Bury, will take on 1,500 patients mainly from the Astley Bridge area. Patients are asked to make an appointment before they can register at a later date.

Mr Cohen will work at the practice for one day a week until he has employed a full time dentist. It is hoped the full time dentist will be in place by December.

Many of the potential patients queuing outside the surgery said they had been without a dentist for several years.

Ann Gilpin, of Pemberton Street, Astley Bridge, said: "I have been trying for two years to get my 13 year old daughter a dentist. We used to go to a practice in Halliwell, that went private, and the costs were just too high. It's just ridiculous when you have to start paying for a child to have treatment that should be available on the NHS."

Sandra Schofield, of Wilkinson Road, Astley Bridge, said: "I have been without a dentist for about two years after mine went private. The treatment turned out to be very expensive and I couldn't afford it. Once I heard about this opening I knew I had to get down here fast."

If anyone wants to make an appointment at the dentist they should telephone 01204 302011.