As many as one in five of the county's pharmacies could be facing complete closure, the council announced this week.

Buckinghamshire County Council say that proposed £170 million funding cuts in government support - which could take effect as early as October this year - could close 20 of the 97 pharmacies, having "severe effects" on the services in Bucks.

As well as offering an alternative to visiting a GP, pharmacies provide access to flu vaccination, emergency contraception, chlamydia testing and smoking cessation services.

The council's Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC) are set to outline their "deep concern about the probable effects of the cuts" which they feel "disproportionally effect residents in rural areas within the county" in a response to the government.

Angela Macpherson, Chairman of the HASC, said: "I'm most concerned by this. It looks like a hugely short-sighted cut, being an essential service that is seen by many – nationally as well as locally - as part of the solution to the increasing cost of health and adult social care, rather than as part of the problem.

"If this goes ahead, it is likely to have an impact on our more vulnerable residents, and it will certainly add to the workload of our GPs and adult social care services."