Plans for an NHS dental surgery in Billericay could be scrapped after residents failed to back the scheme.

Dentist Kamran Nazerati had secured planning permission and hoped to treat between 3,000 and 4,000 patients at the new surgery, in Stock Road, from August.

However, the June 15 deadline for Mr Nazerati to deliver a list of 2,000 prospective patients to the Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford Primary Care Trust (PCT), which would have partly funded the scheme, has passed.

Despite spending £3,500 on planning and advertising his plans, Mr Nazerati was only able to collect 460 names.

The 37-year-old, who currently works at the Wickford Dental Surgery, was prepared to spend up to £500,000 setting up the surgery.

He said: "When I first approached this in January, I was given the impression there was a huge demand for an NHS dentist in Billericay.

"Unfortunately, I have not had enough interest to suggest to the PCT funding a new surgery would represent value-for-money.

"However, I am not giving up, and would like anyone who would like an NHS dentist in Billericay to contact me."

The news has also had a knock-on effect on the family who had planned to sell their home to Mr Nazerati.

Darren Green, his wife Natalie and their 18-month-old daughter had hoped to sell-up and move to a bigger house in Shoebury.

Now, Southend Airport worker Mr Green is unsure whether their dream move will go ahead at all.

He said: "We put our house up for sale in January, and Kamran came to us with an offer in March.

"From that moment, he had three months to secure enough names to secure the funding to complete the deal.

"Now that hasn't happened, the deal cannot be completed because the PCT will want to re-evaluate it."

No one from Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford PCT was available for comment.

Anyone supporting Mr Nazerati should e-mail, aimsdentalcare@hotmail.co.uk