Mrs Redmayne says she tried 17 dentists without success

Lesley Redmayne, husband John and their four children moved to Kirkoswald, near Penrith from the Wirral, 18 months ago.

But when she needed emergency dental treatment she was told there was a shortage of NHS dentists in Cumbria.

She has now been forced to make appointments with another dentist and will have to make round trips totalling about 720 miles.

Mrs Redmayne, 37, has described the situation as an "absolute joke" and says it highlights the crisis in Britain's dental care services.

She says she intends to bill Eden Valley Primary Care Trust (PCT) for the petrol she is using to travel to her former dentist.

There are a limited number of appointments for people who are not registered with a dentist but need urgent treatment Eden Valley PCT

The PCT has acknowledged a shortage of NHS dentists in the area.

It has even tried to recruit dentists from Poland.

Mrs Redmayne said: "I tried 17 dentists and none could take me as an NHS patient.

"It's an absolute joke that neither I or my children can get a dentist when we need one."

A spokeswoman for Eden Valley PCT said: "We are sorry that there are not enough dentists working in this area to provide NHS treatment to everyone who wants it.

"There are a limited number of appointments for people who are not registered with a dentist but need urgent treatment.

"We are trying to improve the situation; we have been overseas to try to recruit more dentists to work here and we have plans to extend the Dental Access Service to Penrith as soon as we can find suitable staff."