Fears that Crymych will be left with inadequate GP coverage after its current doctor retires have been aired at a massive public meeting.

More than 300 people packed out the school hall to make their fears known to the Community Health Council and the Local Health Board. Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies told the meeting that it was vital that the village had continuous GP coverage and said he would be pressing for a permanent health centre to be built.

"It is imperative that there is continuity of health care here," he said. "We must retain core services in the village. People don't want to see a different doctor each time they go to the surgery."

Crymych has been served for 28 years by Dr Verdi who has operated a single-handed practice out of his own premises in the village. He is due to retire at the end of the year and his 1,500 patients will have to find a new doctor.

There is already a small mobile medical health centre in the village and a number of larger surgeries from nearby have expressed an interest in covering Crymych.

However plans to build a permanent, larger centre have so far failed to get off the ground.

"I shall be lobbying Welsh health minister Edwina Hart to make funds available for a new health centre," added Mr Davies.

"Crymych deserves to have a GP based in the village from a proper practice, not a visiting service with a different doctor each week operating from a mobile unit," added Mr Davies.