An 86-year-old hospital patient has been forced to survive on a liquid diet for four months after her dentures went missing.

Audrey Stones's false teeth were left on a dinner tray at Royal Bolton Hospital but staff refused to let her search for them in the kitchens.

Her daughter, Yvonne Moller, says she was left to look for a dentist after being told the onsite orthodondist couldn't help.

Audrey Stones was left lacking nutrition as she struggled to eat for months when she lost her dentures and Bolton Royal Hospital (pictured) didn't contact her family to replace them until this week

Despite the set disappearing last October, the hospital in Farnworth only contacted the family this week to say action would be taken after the Bolton News reported on the matter.

Mrs Stones has been in the hospital with leg problems since August last year apart from a short time at home.

Mrs Moller says her mother is lacking nutrition and described her as 'very poorly and bed bound'.

'My mother asked me on Saturday to give her the numbers of taxis so she could go to the dentist herself,' she said.

'Mum keeps asking me why she hasn’t got her teeth and why have I not done anything about it? There are people going to the moon! They surely can replace some teeth!'

She said staff have to keep a close eye on her mother to make sure she manages to swallow her pureed food.

Her mother was so desperate for teeth that when a pair turned up she began using them even though she had no idea whose they were.

Mrs Moller says that the very same day she contacted the media the hospital got on the phone to her.

A spokesman for The Royal Bolton Hospital told the paper that the centre does not provide the specialist denture replacement service that was required.

He said that in such circumstances as a patient losing their false teeth, staff will contact local dentists to arrange replacements during admission.

'In this instance none of the dentists we contacted initially were able to facilitate an assessment at the hospital, however we now have agreement that a local dental laboratory who will come out so the situation has been resolved and Mrs Stokes and her daughter are happy with that,' he said.