Hundreds of patients are facing a trek to collect medicines with the relocation of one of Dorking's best-known chemists.

At the end of the month, Alan Woodcock will shut its High Street store, where it has been for decades, and re-open on March 1 in South Street, at the site formerly occupied by Casseldens shoe shop.

But the move means several hundred patients in Goodwyns, Chart Downs and Rough Rew areas could be forced to travel further to collect their remedies.

This is because their nearest doctors' surgery, in North Holmwood, will lose its dispensing status to these residents under an NHS rule that prevents GPs providing medicine to patients living within one mile of any chemist.

Dr Justin Thompson, of the North Holmwood Surgery, said: "It will mean that a significant proportion of our patients will be disadvantaged and inconvenienced, particularly the patients living on the Goodwyns estate.

"They will have to collect their prescriptions from us and take them into town to collect their medicines. It will be a significantly longer journey."

Olive Longhurst, 75, of Stubs Hill, Dorking, is affected. She said: "I am not happy. I am 75 and can just about walk. If I go on the bus I will have to wait for half-an-hour to get there and then another half-an-hour to get home."

And mum-of-two Stephanie Fuller, 40, of Wildcroft Drive, said: "It will be an inconvenience to have to go to South Street and parking is harder in town."

"It is so much easier to come here, especially with two children."

Richard Woodroffe, owner of Alan Woodcock, which has another pharmacy at the Medwyn Centre, said the relocated premises will be open longer hours and offer a delivery service to housebound patients.

Mr Woodroffe said: "This relocation has been assessed by both the local PCT and its review panel in Harrogate, and found to be acceptable.

"We are working towards improving the local pharmaceutical service, as we have at the late night pharmacy based at the Medwyn Medical centre.

"In light of the concerns of the North Holmwood surgery for its disadvantaged patients, we have decided both to increase the hours of the pharmacy to 8am till 7pm, on a trial basis at first.

"We will also be offering a delivery service to the housebound of Dorking, North Holmwood and local areas."