Plans to open much-needed NHS dental surgeries in the Aire Valley could be put on hold because of a lack of funding.

Businessman Jan Bostock wants to open a dentist's surgery in Shipley, employing three Polish dentists, while Sandeep Sharma wants to open an orthodontist practice for children in the area.

Both surgeries would be for NHS patients, but North Bradford Primary Care Trust says it has no extra money for improving dentistry in the area.

At present, people in Shipley wanting to register with an NHS dentist must travel as far afield as Brighouse, Morley, Heckmondwike or Huddersfield.

Julie Winterbottom, associate director of Commissioning for North Bradford Primary Care Trust, said: "There was £63 million allocated by the Government nationally for improving access to dentists and West Yorkshire has received more than its fair share of this.

"Unfortunately this money has now already been committed to initiatives to improve dentistry in Airedale and North Bradford. We are not aware of any more Department of Health money earmarked specifically for improving dentistry in the near future."

PCTs make contracts with dentists to provide care for their patients but there is no extra cash to create new contracts.

Jan Bostock, who wants to open a practice in Lambert House, Kirkgate, Shipley, believes he can overcome a clause in the law which said he could not open a dental practice because he is not a dentist. But he said: "Even if we did open as an NHS dentist, the PCT can't guarantee any NHS contracts.

"When I spoke to Julie Winterbottom, she told me the demand for NHS dentists is there, as we all know, but the funding is not.

"That leaves things up in the air because I don't want to spend about £200,000 setting up this practice to find we can't get any contracts."

Meanwhile, Mr Sharma has been carrying out specialist brace work two days a week at Avondale Dental Surgery, but now wants to expand into his own practice. He has his eye on a number of premises, but is also worried about the uncertainty over funding and NHS contracts.

Mr Sharma said: "The new contracts are not looking good. There are going to be less people doing NHS work because the funding is not there. I know places where we could get qualified dentists, but the PCT can't afford it."

Both Mr Sharma and Mr Bostock are still keen to set up practices and are continuing to monitor the funding situation closely.