NVESTIGATIONS into allegations of fraud at a Droitwich dental practice are continuing after the arrest of two dentists.

Police swooped on the two dentists following inquiries by the NHS Counter Fraud Service.

An NHS Counter Fraud Service spokesman said: 'We can confirm that we are investigating allegations of fraud in connection with a dental surgery in the Droitwich area."

He added: "As part of a joint investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service and West Mercia police, two individuals were arrested at a Droitwich address and one at another address in the West Midlands. All three were released on bail for further inquiries into allegations of NHS fraud."

The three were arrested last Tuesday.

Patients of the Droitwich Spa Dental Practice in Blackfriars Avenue were recently contacted by the fraud service asking for permission to view their records as part of inquiries.

It would not confirm that the arrests were part of the same investigations.

Former dentist and owner of the Blackfriars Avenue practice, Jaspal Singh Bachada, was suspended for six months by the General Dental Council last May after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

A tribunal concluded he had charged for unnecessary work or billed for treatment never carried out on six patients in Birmingham in 2000.