Eight members of staff have been issued with redundancy notices following the closure of Cleator Moor Dental Centre.

Around 5,500 patients of the practice are currently looking for new dental care providers after it closed last month.

A spokesman for the CPT said: "Eight members of staff have been issued with notice of redundancy and, if we are unable to find them suitable alternative work, they will be entitled to redundancy payments in line with their conditions of employment.''

In a letter to former patients of Cleator Moor Dental Surgery from the CPT it lists alternative practices to contact including Oasis Dental Care in Whitehaven, Millom, Workington, and Keswick.

A spokesman from NHS England Cumbria and the North East said: "Cleator Moor Dental Surgery has provided treatment to around 5,500 patients over the last 24 months.

"While every effort was made to prioritise patients who had already started a course of treatment, there were a very small number of patients whose treatment could not be completed prior to the practice closing.

"These patients were therefore given the opportunity to complete their treatment with the trust at their dental access centre in Carlisle as an alternative to transferring their care to another provider.

"NHS England is continuing discussions with other local practices to further increase the choice of available practices.

"We are confident that there will be sufficient provision to meet the needs of Cleator Moor patients, however we continue to monitor the situation.''