A CAMPAIGN group will be collecting signatures in support of the NHS as part of a community action day next week.

Local members of 38 Degrees, a reportedly 1.9million-strong political group which describes itself as progressive, will be holding the action day outside Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road, on April 25 from 11am.

They are calling on residents in Leigh and the Southend West constituency to sign a petition to “save the NHS” and make it clear to politicians and candidates it is an issue they feel strongly about.

The petition, which 2,000 people in the area have signed, asks candidates to commit to protect the NHS from “privatisation,”

make sure it has the funding it needs, and keep it out of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal with the US.

Leigh member Lynne Sellers said: “The more of us who hit the streets, the sooner politicians will realise they need to protect the NHS to get our vote. I love our NHS and I’m calling on everyone else who does to join us on April 25.”

Anyone interested can visit www.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-events