A mobile dental surgery is to be brought into the city to give people better access to a dentist.

The surgery will primarily target groups such as children and adults with learning or physical disabilities and people with poor oral health such as homeless people.

However, the vehicle will also be used to take to areas where there is a shortage of NHS dentists and where people may be experiencing difficulties getting dental care.

Swarnjit Shahid, clinical director of Bradford Personal Dental Service, said the mobile unit was needed to replace a 20-year-old caravan which was no longer fit for the job.

The caravan can only be used for six months of the year because its pipes freeze in winter, it needs frequent repairs as it was bought in 1984, it has been subjected to frequent vandalism as it has to be left on site for weeks at a time and it is inflexible as it needs to be towed.

Treatment is also limited as the lining of the walls is inadequate for taking X-rays and it has no waste water tank. That means that providing dental treatment results in water draining into open sites, breaching health and safety regulations.

Mrs Shahid, said the new mobile unit would provide a year-round flexible service. "It can be driven to locations and inside it will be just like a dental surgery, with a space for a receptionist and a waiting area," she said. "It will be staffed by a dentist and a dental nurse and we hope it will improve access for people who cannot register with dentists."

The unit was approved by board members of Bradford City PCT yesterday. It is hoped it will be up and running in the district by the end of the year.

The unit will be funded by a £250,000 underspend in the budget of Bradford's PDS - a service which covers people living in the areas of Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust, Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust and North Bradford Primary Care Trust.