The new �2m centre, based at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, will be used to train up doctors as well as dentists.

It is hoped that many of those who study at the centre will stay on to practice in the region.

Dr Mike Flanagan, head of the new centre, said the new facilities speak for themselves.

He said: "We have a range of lecture theatres, seminar rooms and clinical skills labs for dentists and doctors.

'Skilling up'

"Although this opening is taking place in Lancaster, it's symbolic of our educational development throughout the bay and we have also refurbished the education centres in Furness and Kendal.

"The key thing we're doing is to bring doctors and dentists to a level whereby their skills will make them employable within our local area, so what we're really doing is skilling up the people that we need."

Ian Cumming, chief executive of Morecambe Bay Hospitals Trust, said: "It's very important that are able to grow people locally who will then come and work for us in the local NHS.

"We know that in some areas we struggle to recruit staff, so what better way than to attract local people into these jobs so we can appoint them?"

The new centre was officially opened on Monday.