A GP surgery in one of Norfolk's fastest-growing towns is set to be expanded - but health bosses are having to resort to using a Portakabin to achieve this.

Local NHS leaders had initially earmarked Attleborough for a new primary care hub, with the town set to double in size in coming years.

However, the town was later dropped from the care hub scheme following changes to NHS England's funding rules.

Now, a compromise is set to see a Portakabin containing six new consultation rooms installed at the existing GP site in Station Road later this summer.

The move has been designed as a temporary measure to serve the town for the next five years while NHS Norfolk and Waveney look at further means of addressing its growing needs.

The surgery, which is set across two sites in the town, is already over-subscribed.

But with the town expecting more than 4,000 new homes in coming years demand for GP services are set to continue to grow.

Eastern Daily Press: George Ridgway, trustee of Attcare health group. Picture: Sonya DuncanGeorge Ridgway, trustee of Attcare health group. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)

George Ridgway, a trustee of Attcare, a local health-focused community group, said the town's needs were urgent.

He said: "The GP practice is totally over-subscribed and has been for some time and people in the town are getting more and more frustrated.

"I think the project will make a difference as a full rebuild would take years to do. This will at least create the opportunity to try and recruit new experts in the meantime."

A spokesman for NHS Norfolk and Waveney said it would be working with the practice to review its workforce.

Mr Ridgway added: "I think there are particular pressures facing Attleborough that others places don't see as much. 

"It is not unusual for practices to be oversubscribed but it has been this way in Attleborough for some time."

The project is set to be discussed by the primary care commissioning committee on Monday.