MS sufferer Rachel Tempest can't wait for the new surgery on her doorstep to open.

Computer problems have pushed back the opening date of Westbury-on-Severn' s new surgery from April 1 until mid-May.

For more than a year patients have had to travel four miles up the road to Newnham-on-Severn to be seen by a doctor.

"It's been a bit distressing that the new surgery has just been sitting there but couldn't be used," said Rachel.

"It's certainly going to make life easier when it is open again.

"Newnham isn't far away but parking and getting up the hill to the surgery can be a problem, especially for those people who have problems walking."

Jan D'Ambrogio, chairman of the Westbury Parish Hall committee, said: "We are trying to make sure that we have the reassurance that the surgery will go ahead and that the GP practice will move in.

"At the moment we are held up because the PCT hasn't yet installed the necessary IT.

"The surgery will not be open on April 1 as planned but once the computers are sorted we hope everything will go ahead."

Coun Norman Stephens (Ind, Newnham & Westbury), said: "This is great news that local people have waited for for a long time.

"It will make things much more convenient for the elderly and infirm, especially."