IAIN Duncan Smith has renewed his call for a cabinet colleague to reverse a decision to close services at Redbridge's only general hospital.

Former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley rubberstamped the a plan to remove A&E and maternity services at King George Hospital earlier this year.

Now Mr Duncan Smith, a long-term critic of the move, has called on his successor, Jeremy Hunt, to reverse the decision.

During a meeting with campaigners at the hospital today the Chingford and Woodford Green MP said: ""The idea that we could possibly survive without these services in the current climate is ridiculous.

"I have written to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt before and will write to him again.

"We need to keep the maternity and A&E units at King George open."

The maternity service at King George Hospital in Barley Lane, Goodmayes, is earmarked for closure early next year.

No date has been set for the closure of the A&E department.