LOCAL chemists fear dozens of shops will be forced to close if proposals go ahead to allow supermarkets to open rival pharmacy outlets.

The Office of Fair Trading has recommended the sweeping away of controls on the location of pharmacies.

Under current rules, the NHS licenses pharmacies to ensure they are evenly spread across communities. Supermarkets, however, claim the system results in higher prices.

Chemists in Bolton fear that the days of independent pharmacies could now "numbered".

The recommendation, if taken on board by the Government, would mean supermarkets would be free to open rival, cut-price outlets and could also lead to a situation where chemists are clustered together on roads and in estates. Currently, there cannot be two pharmacies within around two miles of each other.

The competition watchdog believes any registered pharmacy with qualified staff should be able to dispense NHS prescriptions.

Staff at Gatley Frank chemist, on Tonge Old Road, Bolton, are concerned. Although there are no supermarkets located nearby, they fear the lack of control could mean a rival pharmacy opening in the same area.

A spokesman said: "It could lead to a situation where small pharmacies are taking less money and the businesses lose value." The supermarkets have argued that the NHS, which licenses pharmacies to ensure they are evenly spread across communities and can generate a reasonable profit, is keeping prices £420 million a year higher than they need be.

There are 52 chemists in Bolton, including Boots and supermarket branches, relying on NHS prescriptions for 80 per cent of their income.

Jacqueline MacDonald, who has run her chemist on Egerton Street, Farnworth, for 15 years, said: "The days of independent chemists are numbered.

"Supermarkets will also muscle in if they can. The Office of Fair Trading shouldn't be sweeping these controls away. Independent chemists offer a vital, personal service and take pressure off GPs."

In the past, the threat from the supermarkets has killed off many traditional bakers, butchers and greengrocers. More recently, Tesco's purchase of hundreds of smaller food stores threatens to close independent shops.

The current drive for a rethink over pharmacy rulings is being led by Asda Wal-Mart, which wants to break the chemist "closed shop" -- a market worth £18.7 billion. Supermarkets have already slashed the prices of over-the-counter medicines.

Dip Patel, owner of Gotham City Pharmacies, fears there will be clusters of pharmacies in profitable areas, and few or none in rural districts.

He owns 10 chemists in the North-west including Ladybridge Pharmacy, in Broadgate, Deane, and Hooton Pharmacy, in Lee Lane, Horwich -- which has been in the area for more than a century.

He said: "The local pharmacy provides an array of medical services at the heart of the community.

"Prescription dispensing and expert professional advice on medical and minor ailments are essential roles provided by pharmacists and these services are readily available to the general public without the need to make an appointment.

"Deregulation of the NHS control would create clusters of pharmacists in local areas around places like surgeries, town centres and supermarkets.

"The consequence would be a decline in local community chemists, resulting in patients having to travel further to consult their pharmacists. This is in direct conflict with the general NHS plan, which aims to provide better access to to NHS services such as pharmacies to the patient."

The Department of Trade and Industry has 90 days to decide whether to implement the OFT recommendations.