A drive to recruit doctors to train as GPs in Wales has been so successful that extra training places have been created, it has been announced.

Wales had sought to increase 136 trainees this year – but has now appointed 144.

The country has been offering bonuses of £20,000 to trainees choosing to work in remote areas, such as Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

GP leaders said the news was an “important milestone.”

The Royal College of GPs said the Welsh government should now set a target of 200 trainees a year.

Dr Rebecca Payne, national chair for the Royal College of GPs, said: “We need to expand the GP workforce by 485 GPs by 2021 and the increase in GP trainees is real progress towards this.”

Welsh health secretary Vaughan Gething said he now hoped to improve the recruitment of psychiatric trainees.

He said: “I expect the campaign to go from strength to strength and attract even more doctors to Wales.”