News and Star readers shared their outrage on the claim that the nearest dentist for Cumbrians will be in Hexham as of September.

This will be because the vacancies are being quickly taken up.

Val Ferguson said: "This has been going on for years, dentists just want private private clients."

Shirley Wood said: "It's an absolute disgrace my husband rang loads of NHS dentists and none were available."

David Marcus Dixon said: "I was half way through treatment for new teeth and I got a letter in the post saying it's now stopped because they no longer take NHS patients."

Vicki Goodwin-Tull said: "They will be lucky to get a place in Hexham, my son is on a 32 month waiting list to be accepted into a dental practice there."

Amber Louise Jenkins said: "Wow so basically if you don’t want to or can’t travel you’ve no choice but to go private.

"Another cost per month for people who might already be just getting by."

Caroline Scott said: "Been like that for a lot longer been trying to get one for my kids for over two years."

Officials have also voiced their concern over this rather alarming issue.

Linda Radcliffe, a Maryport Town Councillor said that this is not the standard set or demanded of by the NHS.

She went onto say that this would effect lots of people across Cumbria as they would have to pay for the services that they previously got on the NHS.

Mrs Radcliffe explained the massive costs of this occurring as it could lead to people neglecting their teeth and having poor oral health.