Outraged councillors have voiced their anger at proposals to cut back on NHS fertility services to curb an expected £15.7million deficit.

Specialist treatments, including IVF, could be restricted to cancer patients and men with HIV - saving the NHS £550,000.

Witham town councillors were worried about the wider implications the cuts could have.

North ward member Steve Goodfellow said: “We are going to get a poorer health service and it’s an absolute disgrace."

Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, which is made up of GPs, said other health services “should take priority” over fertility treatment in any spending decisions.

It is considering keeping eligibility as it is, restricting women to just one cycle rather than three, or its ‘preferred option’, which is to restrict services to cancer patients and men with HIV.