More than 130 people turned up at a public meeting on Monday in support of local GPs Bryan Johnston and John Salamonski, who fear that their surgeries in Balmullo and Leuchars will be badly affected by the new facility.

They had unsuccessfully appealed a decision by NHS Fife pharmacy practices committee to allow the pharmacy to go ahead and are now pinning their hopes on permission being granted for a pharmacy to be established in their Balmullo surgery.

The application has been made by Raymond Kelly of Falkland-based Lomond Pharmacy, who would provide pharmaceutical services in space leased from the doctors.

Drs Johnston and Salamonski provide a dispensing service to patients in both Leuchars and Balmullo and believe that the loss of income resulting from having to give up the service when the new pharmacy opens in April could lead to the closure of one of their surgeries as well as staff redundancies.

The pharmacy practices committee is due to make its decision on the Balmullo application early next month, and whatever the outcome an appeal is inevitable.

Fraser Macpherson and Partners, the company set to open the Leuchars facility, have already lodged an objection to the application, saying that a second pharmacy in the area is unnecessary.

Monday's meeting was organised by Leuchars Community Council, whose secretary, Carroll Finnie, said: "The meeting was supported by 135 Leuchars residents who made their feelings well-known.

"Dr Johnston explained the worst scenario for the Leuchars surgery which he continues to hope will not happen — i.e. a part-time surgery and loss of staff across the board.

"Mr Kelly was also in attendance, but there was very little he could say at this stage due to his application being processed.

"However, one resident did ask him if he had ever heard of a pharmacy opening and then having to close due to lack of support, which he hadn't. I think that shows the strength of feeling.

"The overwhelming census was to boycott the Leuchars pharmacy and support the application for a pharmacy in Balmullo."