More than 700 people have signed a petition to stop the closure of two hospital wards.

In February, Hertfordshire’s NHS Trust announced it would be closing the Sopwell and Langton wards at St Albans City Hospital due to budget cuts.

The closure of the wards, which provide 24-hour nursing services, will save the NHS around £2.8m a year but campaigners argue that they provide important care for elderly people.

More than 500 people signed a petition against the closures at a Labour Party stall at St Albans Market last week, and more than 200 people have signed online.

St Albans Labour Party spokesperson Jill Gipps said: "People in St Albans understand the importance of local services that help elderly people get ready for a safe return home while family and friends can visit daily.

“This aids recovery and we cannot stand by and let these beds be closed."

The city will lose 39 beds but ten extra spaces will be created in Langley House in Watford. The trust claims that around 40 per cent of its patients in St Albans live in Watford and only 31 per cent have a local postcode.

To sign the petition, visit: https://www.change.org/p/herts-valley-clinical-commissioning-group-stop-the-closure-of-sopwell-langton-wards-at-st-albans-hospital.