Enfield LBC has vowed to ‘lobby tirelessly' to keep the A&E and maternity wards at Chase Farm hospital in the face of proposals to close the units and downgrade its status through a merger with the North Middlesex Hospital.

According to council estimates, based on levels of deprivation, the borough is under-funded to the tune of £70m. Deputy leader Cllr Achilleas Georgiou said any merger plans must ensure the retention of a range of high-quality services on each site.