A Suffolk dental patient described how she decided to visit a mobile dental clinic because she 'could not cope with the pain' caused by a broken tooth and suspected abscess.

Global dental charity Dentaid has been visiting Suffolk for the fifth time and set up a clinic at St Gregory's Church in Sudbury on Friday to provide free emergency treatment for patients who were unable to access either NHS or private dental care locally.

Julie Guyon, from Long Melford, was among the 50 patients who were seen by the charity team and described how she had been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen painkillers four times a day to relieve the pain since the problems with her tooth started three months ago.

She had received an X-ray and said she was hoping to have the tooth removed.

She said: "I had tried to pay to go privately, but there were no spaces anywhere, not until July and that doesn't help me at the moment so I called NHS111 and they told me about this service today.

"I just couldn't cope with the pain anymore. I have got a broken tooth and it has caused an abscess."

She described the situation with NHS care in the area as 'very bad'.

Sudbury Mercury: The Dentaid mobile clinic in St Gregory's Church, SudburyThe Dentaid mobile clinic in St Gregory's Church, Sudbury (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Another patient, Gary Shaw, said he had a tooth out and had received a 'brilliant service,' while Shelley Radford had similar treatment and described her experience at the clinic as 'amazing'.

Dentaid spokesperson Jill Harding said: "We have had about 50 people visit and everybody is going to receive treatment, which is amazing."

Suffolk county councillor Jessie Carter, who represents Sudbury, contacted the charity after being approached by patients who said they had been unable to access either NHS or private care locally.

On Thursday, Dentaid held a clinic at St Mary's Church in Haverhill, which treated 48 patients.