Protestors took to the streets of Letchworth on Saturday to give their backing to the ‘Save our NHS’ campaign.

The day of action, co-ordinated by campaign group 38 Degrees, was held across England with more than 10,000 people taking part.

The group has signed a petition asking all of the candidates standing to be an MP in North East Herts in May to protect the NHS from privatisation, ensure the NHS has the funding it needs and to keep the NHS out of the TTIP trade deal with the US.

38 Degrees member Julie Loaker, who is from Letchworth and took part with her dog Porg, said: “I have never campaigned for anything political before, but it was extremely interesting.

“People didn’t want to speak to us at all until we managed to show that we weren’t from any particular parties.

“I met some people with great stories – one guy said he would have died in infancy of tuberculosis without it and a lady who had just come out of hospital with cancer treatment said she owed her life to it.

“I love the NHS, and thought I should put my money where my mouth is and do something rather than just complain.

“I visited casualty many times when my boys were young, and have a foster child who has suffered great neglect and has been given exemplary care since living with us.

“It is an amazing institution and needs to be protected. I don’t really like looking like a loon on the street but I felt like I needed to take action!”

38 Degrees executive director David Babbs said: “The fact that so many people took to the streets on such a bitter winter day proves how much we all care about the NHS.

“The NHS is the best healthcare system in the world, and it belongs to all of us.

“But too many politicians have ignored the doctors and nurses on the frontline.”

The local petition to save the NHS is at www.38degrees.org.uk/nhs.