A DENTAL surgery earmarked for closure could yet be saved, campaigners hope.

Mersea Road Dental Surgery, in Colchester, was told it would no longer be able to treat NHS patients because there was enough capacity elsewhere.

Colchester councillor Dave Harris set up a petition to save the surgery, which cannot survive without NHS patients.

The petition has been signed by 347 people online and hundreds more at the surgery, which has 1,200 patients.

Mr Harris said: “I am told the procurement process that decided not to keep the dentists open is being reviewed. It means the hierarchy at the NHS are checking everything was done correctly.

“I believe it was not. The patients’ views are supposed to be paramount and their needs have not been taken account of. I remain convinced, as do the residents, that the long-standing Mersea Road dentists is best-placed to serve the needs of our community.

“I am appealing to the NHS to listen to the people who signed the petition.”

The surgery is run by Prettygate Dental. Director Yogesh Dasoar insisted the service remained necessary and he was also hoping for a last minute U-turn.

NHS England claimed the premises in Mersea Road were too small, not viable and there is space at other surgeries.