MP Gideon Amos MP is pressing for Jhoots to either reopen its pharmacy in Wellington or sell it to a company which can do so.

Mr Amos has written to Jhoots and to Health and Social Care Minister Stephen Kinnock calling for action.

It follows Allied Pharmacies taking over the management of 60 Jhoots locations in the Westcountry - but not the Wellington branch.

Wellington currently has only two functional pharmacies, Boots and Superdrug, with NHS Somerset earlier this year refusing a licence to allow Orange Pharmacy to open in the town.

Mr Amos said in his letter to Jhoots: “Residents of Wellington have been let down repeatedly by the Jhoots pharmacy.

“The sudden closure, with no signs of reopening, is very disappointing and I urge you to either reopen, with adequate staffing and provision of medication, or bring in new owners to take on the pharmacy, as you have done with other sites in Somerset.

“Pharmacies play a vital role in our communities and Wellington deserves better.”

In his Ministerial letter, Mr Amos asked what was being done to address the urgent issues of pharmacy provision.

He said: “With substantial housing growth planned in Wellington, it is essential that local healthcare infrastructure keeps pace.

“However, access to pharmacy services has been increasingly neglected, and the indefinite closure of Jhoots has made this situation considerably worse.”

An NHS Somerset spokesperson said: “We are aware of continuing concerns from local communities in relation to Jhoots pharmacies in Somerset, including in Wellington, and we know unplanned closures cause disappointment and frustration for local people.

“Patients should never be left without their essential medications and, where necessary, we take the appropriate formal contractual action, including issuing breach notices and withholding payments.

“Since meeting with partners in Wellington in September, we have been working with and supporting pharmacy providers to address local concerns.”