Residents in Oldham, the Lake District and Crewe want to register with an NHS dentist in Knutsford.

Dr Roger Klein, who opens Regent Cosmetic Practice in Bexton Lane on Friday, said he had been inundated with calls over the past week from people desperate to register with an NHS dentist.

"The phone has been ringing off the hook," he said. "The response has been phenomenal."

But some people have struggled to get in touch with the surgery because of a problem with the phone line. "It will definitely be active and looked after from Thursday," he said. Patients can register with the surgery on Friday, Saturday and Monday.

Dr Klein, who lives in Lymm and has been a dentist for 10 years, said some residents were planning on arriving at the surgery at 7am to ensure they were signed up.

But the 37-year-old said there was no need to arrive until 9am.

"I will do my best to see as many as I can," he said.

Last month more than 1,500 people waited outside an NHS dental surgery in Spalding, Lincolnshire, when it recruited a new dentist from Spain.

Some people queued for almost seven hours because they were so desperate to be seen.

Dr Klein has previously worked at surgeries in Manchester and Hale.

His wife Sally will be practice manager and two receptionists, two hygienists and nurses will work at the Regent House surgery. Residents can register from 9am to 5pm Friday and Monday and 10am to 2pm Saturday.

For more details call the surgery on 01565 654555.