TRAFFORD'S Tory group has hit out at the state of the dental service.

The Tories highlighted latest figures, that show that in Stretford and Urmston, the number of adults who have access to an NHS dentist has fallen by 14,917 since 1997 - a reduction of 31 per cent.

Eddie Kelson, Conservative spokesman for Stretford and Urmston, said: "The Government has clearly failed to honour Tony Blair's promise in 1999 that everyone would be guaranteed an NHS dentist within two years. Although our local primary care trust has recently introduced a limited provision in Old Trafford, this still leaves a great many people without access to an NHS dentist. Patients who can get treatment from an NHS dentist are now being forced to pay more."

Trafford Primary Care Trust (PCT) pointed out its dental access service is borough-wide. It said in a statement: "The PCT's dental access service is based in both Old Trafford and Partington, but provides dental care for all Trafford residents who are registered with a Trafford GP."

A major reorganisation of the dental service came into force on April 1, under which NHS dentists signed contracts with their local primary care trust. Messenger reported at the time that Trafford's dentists warned that the NHS service was under threat, because they claimed the new contracts were being "imposed" on them.