Delays in the construction of a new health centre in one of Norfolk's fastest-growing villages could see the loss of £10m in government funding for the scheme.

Local NHS bosses have been awarded £25m for the creation of four primary care hubs in Thetford, King's Lynn, Sprowston and Rackheath.

The sites have been designed to provide additional services to standard GP practices, including community care and some hospital outpatient treatments.

The project consists of two new builds in King's Lynn and Rackheath and extensions to existing practices in Thetford and Sprowston.

A condition of the £25.2m investment from the government, though, states the projects must be complete by the end of the current financial year or else the funding will be lost.

But with work yet to get under way on the Rackheath site, this deadline is set to be missed - with the hub not expected to open until at least early 2025.

The delays are due to flooding fears over the proposed site in Green Lane East holding up the planning process.

Bosses at NHS Norfolk and Waveney have applied to the Department of Health and Social Care for the £10.6m funding allocated for the project to be carried over to the 2024/2025 financial year.

However, if this bid is unsuccessful it will mean the scheme being placed on hold until alternative funding can be found.

An NHS Norfolk and Waveney spokeswoman said: "The risks for the Rackheath scheme relate to the timing constraints around the funding and planning issues, which are both outside of NHS control.

"If funding is allowed to be carried forward the Rackheath project will continue on its current path - but if not then the scheme will need to pause while alternative funding routes are explored."

The care hub project has already been scaled back once, with financial shortages meaning plans to also include Attleborough and Gorleston in the scheme were scrapped.