AS the euphoria in the Astley Bridge area grows around the news that a new NHS practice is opening there, it's worth going further back in the skills chain.

In amongst all the university courses on football studies and media degrees, why is there no emphasis on encouraging students to study dentistry?

We have an acute shortage of dentists nationally, so the sensible approach might be to have bursaries to fund dedicated dental students.

Is this a gap - or should I say cavity - in the education market that should be filled?