The supply of lifesaving medicines and bandages used to treat serious and life threatening wounds would be hit unless Britain votes to ‘Remain’ in the European Union, claims Watford company Sigma Pharmaceuticals.

More than 100 jobs and £100 million of turnover annually are at risk in the company on June 23, Director Bhavin Shah will tell Herts Labour Euro MP Richard Howitt tomorrow.

Sigma and other British drug importers would lose the benefit of European trademark rules - known as 'parallel imports' - which prevent big pharmaceutical brands charging higher prices in Britain, than the country where the drugs are first produced.

This saves the NHS more than £200 million per year on import costs for the supplies and medicines needed to save lives in Britain.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals employs more than 400 people in Watford overall and Richard Howitt MEP says they are a prime example how business and consumers benefit from Britain's European Union membership.

Labour MEP Richard Howitt said: "The pharmaceutical industry is a high skilled and highly specialised industry that benefits hugely from sharing of information to help save lives in Britain.

“Not only that, but European Union membership helped a successful British company here in Watford, but saved our National Health Service hundreds of millions of pounds that can then be invested where it is needed most.

"This example shows the EU 'leave' campaign are once again not telling the truth - the NHS would suffer not benefit if Britain left the European Union.

“If Britain votes to leave, the thriving pharmaceutical industry at Watford is at risk. And so will the NHS across Britain."