A DENTAL team which was hit by two tragedies in just three months has been nominated for a UK dental award.

Hickman House dental practice based in Hickman Road, Penarth, has been named as a finalist in The Dental Awards run by Dental Republic for best dental practice team and best practice manager.

It comes after the team won the Welsh Dentistry Award for best team in September last year.

The accolades follow a tragic time for the practice.

One of the principal dentists, Charlotte Lloyd, received the devastating news that her husband had cancer.

He died six months later and just three months after that, the practice’s other principal dentist Mark Roach was left paralysed following a motorcycle crash.

But the team pulled together and has gone from strength to strength with 18 staff members managing six surgeries and covering 10,000 patients.

In December, practice manager Kirsty White won the best practice manager in the British Dental Association awards and will collect her award at a conference in May.

Now she and her team are up for two awards in the Dental Awards run by Dental Republic as well.

The Dental Awards, separate from the British Dental Association awards, have run for 17 years and aim to recognise the outstanding individuals and teams whose commitment and drive continues to raise standards throughout UK dentistry.

She said: “We are so pleased to have made the finals of the dentistry awards.

“After winning the Welsh dentistry team of the year award in 2016, it will be the icing on the cake to win the national award

“Again we would like to thank all of our patients for their continued support.”

Staff at the practice are now preparing to run from London to Cardiff in 24 hours to raise money for Rookwood Hospital.