A GP's surgery has refused to reveal whether a family doctor, convicted of kerb-crawling twice, will remain at the practice.

Dr Patrick Holmes, 33, who is employed by Felix House Surgery, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, was convicted for the second time in September for soliciting prostitutes in Teesside's red light district.

Last month, patients were asked to decide his future after the three remaining partners at the surgery asked whether he should continue.

A letter sent to patients said that after his offence "his family, we at the practice, and his patients trusted him to not let it happen again".

They were asked to respond by letting the partners at the surgery know their views on Dr Holmes's convictions and whether the GP should continue working there.

It asked patients to come forward with their views "as to whether or not you would be prepared to have him as a doctor".

Felix House had already received both negative and positive comments from patients prior to the letter being sent out.

Last night, Dr John Marshall, of Felix House Surgery, refused to reveal the outcome of the letter.

When questioned further by The Northern Echo as to whether patients would be told the responses, he said: "It is an internal matter."

It is not known whether patients will receive correspondence telling them the results

Dr Holmes, who is married with two young children, is being investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC) over his behaviour.

A spokeswoman for the GMC said it could be up to a year before the outcome of the investigation would be known.

Since his conviction Dr Holmes has not been allowed to see patients and he will be unable to work until the results of the GMC inquiry are known.

It is understood that Dr Holmes, who lives in Middleton Lane, Middleton St George, is receiving professional help for his problem.

Cleveland Police is still considering serving an Anti-Social Behaviour Order on the doctor that could make him the first GP in the UK to receive the ban.

He has refused to comment about his convictions.