Campaigners handed in a petition of more than 5,000 signatures to stop the privatisation of the NHS.

The petition, which was given to parliamentary candidates outside Hornsey Town Hall on Saturday, also calls on the Government to provide enough funding for high-quality healthcare.

The day of action was held 11 days before the general election and was co-ordinated by independent campaign group 38 Degrees.

Protestors spent the day speaking to hundreds of voters in Seven Sisters, Crouch End and Muswell Hill about the importance of protecting the NHS.

They also quizzed the Liberal Democrats' Hornsey and Wood Green candidate Lynne Featherstone, Labour candidate Catherine West, Green Gordon Peters and Helen-Spiby-Vann, who is standing for the Christians People Alliance, on how they would protect the service if elected.

Rod Wells, a 38 Degrees Haringey member from Tottenham, said: "Our NHS is really important to me and all my family, which is why I and others campaign for it.

“I hope this campaign has shown people nationally and locally that the way we vote on May 7 could determine whether our NHS is still there for our children and grandchildren.

“The petition hand in felt more like a peoples’ hustings with no stage managing. The numbers of people who signed the petition on Saturday shows politicians how important NHS is to them all and politicians when elected must act accordingly.”

David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees, said: “We want Hornsey and Wood Green's MP candidates to see that the best way to win votes is to pledge to save the NHS from privatisation and funding freezes.

“Every candidate needs to realise that cutting NHS funding, or handing it over to private companies, is a huge turn-off for voters.”