Residents who fear they will be left without a GP when their surgery moves urged other concerned patients to make their voices heard.

Plans are underway for Ashcroft Surgery in Sherwood Place, Undercliffe, to move to a new site at the former Eccleshill Upper School, more than a mile away.

But many patients fear they will be left isolated and now two meetings are planned to hear their concerns.

Ashcroft Surgery patient of 15 years Paul Thommesen, 54, pictured, of Peterborough Terrace, Undercliffe, who works as a sub-officer at Idle Fire Station, said part of his work was carrying out home fire safety checks and he had spoken to residents, many of whom were elderly and living in sheltered accommodation.

"We are told the move will mean more car parking, but residents walk to the surgery so that is not a problem for them," he said.

"It will be a problem for them to get on a bus to go a mile and a half down the road. When they get off the bus they will have to walk a quarter of a mile."

He urged other residents to go to the meetings to voice their fears. And pharmacist, Andrew Marshall, of Gibson's Pharmacy, of Sherwood Place, which serves Ashcroft Surgery, said: "The shop has been here for 50 years and there has been a GP practice here for 50 years.

"This is our local community and there are other shops, which are all inter-dependent on each other, which could close. I can see that Ravenscliffe needs facilities and it does have advantages, but it is the Undercliffe area that will lose out."

One patient, who did not want to be named, said: "I am horrified by the doctors' decision to move as this would be the end of these services, not only for my generation, but also for future generations in Undercliffe."

Practice manager at Ashcroft Surgery, Jane Robinson, said: "All I can do is stress that the doctors do not have any agenda, other than the best interests of the patients.

"They are looking to national changes in primary care where there is a shift towards more services being provided in the local community."

She said the practice carried out services such as blood tests - formerly undertaken at Bradford Royal Infirmary - which meant they needed more space.

She said funding had recently been given by North Bradford PCT for an extra GP and a practice nurse which had helped increase services, but also put pressure on space.

The practice has also taken over patients from Dr Martin Spiers who retired.

Two meetings will be held at St Augustine's Church, Otley Road, Undercliffe. The first will be on Friday, January 17 at 2pm and the second on Tuesday, January 21 at 7pm. The meetings will be attended by Dr Sarah Bromley and Dr Ashraf Khan, from Ashcroft Surgery, as well as a representative from North Bradford Primary Care Trust. The chairman will be Les Vasey, chairman of Bradford Community Health Council.

Patients who wish to influence developments for the practice are invited to join a patient involvement group. Attend the meetings or call Jane Robinson on (01274) 637076.