FIVE hundred new dental places are now up for grabs in the Upper Amman Valley after a summer opening date was revealed for a new surgery.

The NHS practice will be opened in Brynaman in August and comes as a result of a joint bid between Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire Local Health Boards.

The places, available to residents of both counties, arrive after two years of speculation and have been welcomed by leaders from both sides of the border.

Gwenda Thomas AM said: "I'm very pleased that efforts to bring an NHS dental practice back to the Upper Amman Valley have paid off, and that the new practice will open in August.

"I arranged a meeting with local elected representatives, officials of both Local Health boards and the NHS trust last year where we agreed on the way forward for NHS dental provision in the area.

"I would like to praise the joint efforts of both Local Health Boards in bringing this new practice to the area and I'm committed to continuing to push the LHB and others to expand the provision further so that everyone who wants an NHS dentist is given the option of registering with one."

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, AM Carmarthenshire East and Dinefwr, echoed Mrs Thomas' sentiments.

He said: "This facility is excellent news for people in the Amman Valley.

"There is a recognised need for additional dental treatments in the area and I am delighted that my constituents will be able to access that treatment when the new surgery opens.

"This practice will help meet the needs of many people in the Amman Valley but I will of course continue to campaign for greater levels of dental provisions in the constituency."

Neath Port Talbot LHB are now taking calls from patients who would like to register with the new practice.

When registering, callers will be asked to provide their full name, address, telephone number and date of birth, which will be added to the registration list.

The LHB will pass this information to the new practice, who will contact patients to inform them of their dental place and to arrange an initial appointment.

To register for a dental place, call the LHB on 01792 326566.