More kids in Merton are being left unprotected against diseases like measles and the mumps than anywhere else in the country.

According to Public Health England a third of five-year-olds in the borough haven't had both MMR jabs - the worst rate in England.

The latest figures for 2017-18 show immunisation rates have plummeted from 80.4 per cent in 2016-17 to 66.7 per cent last year.

This means 395 five-year-olds in the area are totally unprotected against highly-contagious measles.

The Royal College's immunisation expert Dr David Elliman said that a lack of awareness around the importance of getting both jabs, rather than a decision by the parents, could be causing children to miss the second dose.

"The best solution is GPs sending regular reminders to parents, and all GPs should make sure they have an efficient reminder system in place," he said.

"But even healthy children can get nasty measles and die from it.

"A third of measles cases will end up in the hospital."

He added that anyone who has missed the MMR vaccine can still get it for free at their GP.

Experts have said that the uptake of the jab across England, where 87.2 per cent of five-year-olds have had both jabs, is "worryingly low".

The MMR jab is a 3-in-1 vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. It is given to young children in two doses - the first at 12 months, and the second around three years.

Of the 3,176 five-year-olds living in Merton, 2,781 had the first MMR jab, and 2,117 had both jabs.

That means that in addition to those with no protection, 664 children missed out on the second dose of MMR and will only be partially protected.