INQUIRIES about NHS dentists in Bolton have more than doubled in the past 12 months.

The Bolton Primary Care Trust is currently handling 250 calls a week from Bolton residents wanting an NHS dentist. In 2004, they received 100 a week.

The trust has pledged to allocate around 10,000 extra dental places during the course of the year after 18 dentists in Bolton agreed to take on more patients. However, at present all the waiting lists are full.

A spokesman for the Bolton PCT said callers were currently being told to telephone back in a few months time.