A MEDICAL practice serving a North-East village will close within three months and force patients to register with town centre practices.

The NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has announced its “difficult decision” to close Marske Medical Practice following four unsuccessful attempts to find a service provider for the site.

The practice off Hall Close, in Markse-by-the-Sea, near Redcar, will close on June 30.

An NHS South Tees CCG spokesman said: “We are very disappointed to be in this position, but are left with little choice after no providers came forward to run the service.

“To register with an alternative practice, patients should contact that practice and staff will advise on what to do.

“We would like to apologise to those patients affected by the closure and any inconvenience that the closure will cause them.

“We appreciate that this can be a distressing time for patients, but can assure them that they can continue to access high quality health care services by registering with a nearby practice.”