A doctor's surgery has closed its doors to patients due to staff sickness.

Thousands of patients have no way to contact their GP after The New Surgery in Folkestone shut on Monday.

Patients in the meantime are being told to contact 111.

A statement on the surgery's website reads: "Due to staff sickness we regret that we are closed currently.

"Please contact 111 in the interim.

"Please do not post prescriptions through the letter box as they will not be actioned.

"For urgent prescriptions please discuss with your pharmacist."

It ends by saying that 'further updates' will follow.

An answer phone message on the surgery's phone line repeats the same message.

The surgery, in Canterbury Road and which received a 'good' rating at its last CQC inspection, also temporarily closed earlier this year for a 'deep clean'.

It comes following claims Folkestone is already suffering from a doctor's shortage.

Park Farm Surgery closed earlier this year and Folkestone East Family Practice in Dover Road closed in 2017.

Retired Folkestone doctor Altaf Hossain said earlier this year: "The feedback I am getting from my ex-colleagues is that because of GP shortages the existing doctors are finding it more and more difficult to cope, whilst my ex-patients are always telling me how difficult it is to get an appointment at the surgery."

The NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group have been contacted for a comment.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone