Frustrated villagers claim the NHS has made no contact with them over their proposal to reinstate a branch surgery.

The Tolleshunt D’Arcy branch surgery closed on March 31 after its lease ran out and there was no scope to extend it.

Yet despite the parish council’s offer of the village hall as replacement premises, NHS England (East) has given councillors no response.

Parish council chairman Jack Birkin said he had received a letter from parliamentary candidate Priti Patel, in which a representative of the NHS had said they planned to contact villagers to discuss the potential plans.

But Mr Birkin said: “We have been urging them to do that since January.

“It’s extremely annoying."

An NHS England (East) spokesman said: “We are currently waiting for further details of the proposal and once it has been received we will then liaise further with the practice partners."