A DOCTOR'S surgery is set to close its doors to the public in "the coming weeks".

North Hill Surgery, in Colchester, is to make way for solicitors after the lease expired on the building. Practice bosses said the owner of the building was putting it up for sale.

Attwells Solicitors has now applied for planning permission to take over the site, which consists of 18 North Hill and 21 Nunns Road, and transform it into an office.

A notice on North Hill Surgery's website said the surgery had merged its clinical system with Creffield Medical Centre last week.

It said: "This merge will improve communication between the surgeries and therefore provide greater efficiencies in patient care.

"Further to the letters circulated to all patients registered at our North Hill Surgery we will begin to close the surgery over the coming weeks during the afternoons.

"We will put notices up at the practice when the exact closure times are confirmed."

Staff at North Hill Surgery confirmed they would be leaving the building in September after a letter was sent to all patients.

They said staff of the surgery will be moving between its other practices - West Bergholt Surgery, Nayland Surgery and Creffield Medical Centre.

A further statement said: "We want to make our patients aware that North Hill is not closing just relocating.

"The staff, both clinical and administrative will be relocated between our existing surgeries."

If given the go ahead by Colchester Council, Attwells is expected to open as soon as possible in the town.

It would be its first office in Colchester and is expected to create up to ten jobs.

A statement submitted to Colchester Council said: "Attwells Solicitors, an established practice with offices in London and Ipswich, have purchased both buildings and associated site to host their new Colchester office.

"Access and disability provision will remain as existing, in the new office setting."

Colchester Council is expected to make a final decision by December 21.