The new surgeries will help tackle the region's dental problems

Health officials have revealed further details about the plans at Lochmaben Community Hospital.

The �200,000 project will see the creation of three new surgeries to be operated by dental practitioners recruited from Poland.

The new facilities - which are part of a wider action plan to address the shortage of local health sector dentists - are expected to open by May.

NHS Medical Director Angus Cameron confirmed the project should be up and running very quickly.

"It will provide accommodation for three dentists by April/May," he said.

"It is an ideal setting because, although it is not in Lockerbie and we know a lot of people wanted premises in Lockerbie, it is a premises that is not being used at the moment.

"It is owned by the health service, it is new, it is good quality and we can set up a really excellent surgery very quickly," Mr Cameron added.

Dumfries and Galloway has seen a number of NHS dentists de-register recently with many people queuing for hours to secure a dental place.