An NHS dentist facing closure will remain open until a permanent solution is found, has today been announced.

Sandwich MP Craig Mackinlay received the assurance over the town's New Street practice after pressing the director of commissioning operations at NHS England South, Felicity Cox, on the matter last month.

The health body's five-year contract with Kent Community Healthcare Trust to run the practice came to an end last March before an extra one-year agreement was secured.

The same arrangement was not made for its sister surgery, Church Hill Dental Practice in Ramsgate. The closure left 8,000 patients without a dentist and a replacement has still not been found.

Now, Mr Mackinlay has been assured that the Sandwich service which treats about 3,000 registered patients will not end in March 2019.

NHS England told the politician they have identified a number of areas across the county where they are planning to procure new practices or increases to existing ones, including Thanet.

It will undertake a wider consultation in the next few weeks and put forward proposals to the Kent Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for discussion as well as engage with local communities.

The pledge is to continue the Sandwich service until a permanent solution is found.

Mr Mackinlay has welcomed the news but is continuing to fight for a replacement for Church Hill Dental Practice in Ramsgate.

He said: “The feedback I am receiving from my constituents suggests that NHS England’s efforts to address the inadequate dental provision in Ramsgate in particular, and South Thanet more generally, are falling far below the expectations local people need, want and deserve.

“Until today, and specifically in respect of the contract for the New Street Dental Practice in Sandwich which was due to expire in March 2019, we had received no information as to the steps that have been taken to ensure the contract is either renewed, or, failing that, that adequate alternative provision is put in place.

“Therefore, this temporary reprieve for the service in Sandwich is welcome, but our fight to reverse the lack of NHS dentistry locally continues.”