A doctors' surgery is to close because health managers believe the money can be better spent elsewhere.

The surgery in the village of Goathland, on the North York Moors, is only open for two one-hour sessions a week and is under-used, said Robert Flack, manager for the Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the Scarborough and Whitby area.

He said the problem was aggravated because the surgery, a branch of the main surgery at Sleights five miles away, would soon have to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Villagers will have to travel to Sleights surgery, but provision will be made for the collection of prescriptions, and transport for patients to get to the surgery, said Derek Bartrop the PCT's head of patients and public involvement.

About 80 people attended a public meeting where concerns were expressed that the savings of £6,000 a year would be swallowed up in extra visits to the Goathland area by doctors.

The PCT said it was having continuing talks with the family doctors about the future service for people in Goathland.