A WORCESTER clinic which offers single MMR vaccines has collected more than 10,000 signatures from worried parents on a petition.

The Desumo clinic has created the petition to exert pressure on the Government to allow parents the choice of either the combined MMR jab, or have the vaccines individually.

The petition demands the right for parents to choose between the combined and single jabs be reinstated as many parents cannot afford to have the single vaccines individually, and do not have their children vaccinated.

It also asks for any vaccines containing the mercury based preservative thiomersal be removed from public use.

Many parents are concerned the combined vaccine causes problems including autism and bowel difficulties, but the medical profession and various studies have discounted the claims.

Deborah Ryding, who set Desumo up just over a year ago with another worried mother, said they were still planning on presenting the petition to the Government.

"We have got more than 10,000 names and plan on joining with another man who has his own petition," she said.

"We will definitely be going to London, it is just a case of 'wait and see' until the time is right.

"There is a growing band of parents who want to come as well - it is really hotting up, and who knows where it will end."

Desumo clinics started last May, and sessions are now held every two weeks in Worcester city centre.

At one point, up to 10,000 calls a day were being received by worried parents who wanted to give their children single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.

Dr Peter Mansfield, who used to administer the vaccines at the clinic, was reported to the General Medical Council by Worcestershire Health Authority for giving the jabs, but the Council took no action.

The take-up rate for the combined MMR vaccine is currently around 87 per cent, the same as the national average.