LEYTON and Wanstead could be merged with a neighbouring constituency as part of new plans to cut the number of MPs in Parliament.

The future of the seat - which was only created after a boundary change in 1997 - has been thrown into doubt after the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government announced proposals to slash the number of members in the House of Commons.

The move would require smaller constituencies to be merged together to form larger seats.

Leyton and Wanstead is one of the smallest in London with an electorate of around 62,000 - compared to more than 80,000 in other seats such as Feltham and Heston and Croydon North - putting it at higher risk of change.

The plan to cut the number of MPs was one of a raft of political reforms announced this week by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Other proposals included reforming political party funding and MPs expenses and allowing people to make more decisions at a local level.

Labour's John Cryer won Leyton and Wanstead at the general election with 17,511 votes - more than 6,000 fewer than former MP Harry Cohen gained at the 1997 poll.

Mr Cohen stepped down before the last election.