GORDON Prentice has put down a House of Commons motion saying Barnoldswick dentist Adam Evans has "let down his patients and public alike" for pulling out of the NHS service.

In a strongly worded statement laid before the House, the MP for Pendle accuses Mr Evans of "cynically using" NHS funds to set up his business three years ago.

The MP has been strongly critical of the decision of the Diamond Smiles surgery to abandon NHS dentistry and go private from January.

And in his motion to the House he calls on the dentist to repay a £30,500 grant from the NHS used to set up the practice three years ago.

The letter from dentist Adam Evans telling patients he would not be continuing to provide NHS treatment provoked a storm of protest in the town.

Mr Prentice is urging the local NHS to pull out all the stops and set up a new dental practice in Barnoldswick as soon as possible.

Mr Prentice's House of Commons motion stated: "This House expresses its regret and disappointment at the decision of Adam Evans to abandon NHS dentistry and only offer private treatment from his Diamond Smiles surgery in Barnoldswick; understands the shock and dismay felt by many people in the town at the loss to the private sector of a dentist whose NHS credentials were paraded with such fanfare in 2001 when his practice opened.

"(This House) recalls that Mr Evans sought the help and assistance of the hon Member for Pendle in securing a grant of £30,500 from the NHS to establish the practice, telling the hon Member on February 20 2001 that he felt 'there is a severe need in the Barnoldswick area for NHS dental provision'.

"(This House) believes Mr Evans has let down his patients and public alike after proclaiming so loudly his commitment to the NHS and further believes that he has cynically used NHS funds to help him set up shop in the town and calls on him to return the £30,500 to the Primary Care Trust in January 2005 when he ceases to take NHS patients."

Mr Evans has declined to respond to a Craven Herald letter asking him to supply a statement and we have been unable to speak to him to ask if he will return the £30,500 grant as requested by the MP.