NHS dental access figures show 237,374 under-18s in the region were seen, representing 65.1% of the local child population, 7% above the national average of 58.1%.

Amy Lepiorz, associate director of primary care for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: ‘We are delighted to see that more children in our area have accessed an NHS dentist, but not surprised.

‘A lot of work has been done specifically to address the issue and providers and partners have been unified in helping us improve.'

The ICB targets children without regular access to a dentist in deprived areas across Barrow, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn, Kendal, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Rossendale, West Lancashire and Wyre.

The ICB has also led targeted social media campaigns aimed at schools and parents.

The new figures also show the number of adults in Lancashire and South Cumbria accessing NHS dentists over a 24-month period was 3.7 per cent higher than the national average at 43.5%.