The fight to save Chase Farm's A&E department is taking a festive twist.

Campaigners will gather around the War Memorial in Windmill Hill on Saturday, for carol-singing with a difference.

The lyrics to the yuletide songs have been changed to reflect the anger at proposals to downgrade casualty facilities at Chase Farm Hospital, in The Ridgeway.

Among the new songs is a version of Jingle Bells (below), which highlights the problems elderly people will face if they are forced to seek emergency treatment six miles away from Chase Farm at Barnet General Hospital.

Scott Wilkinson, who helped organise the demonstration with his wife Kate, said: "We're asking people to dress up as doctors and nurses - just to make the event a bit more visual.

"We hope to use this more light-hearted protest to show how the idea of shutting Chase Farm's A&E just can't be taken seriously. It's ridiculous - and we want this protest to show just that."

The protest follows one of the largest demonstrations in the borough's history last Saturday when 5,000 people formed a human chain around the hospital.

Meanwhile more than 100 people attended a meeting in Bush Hill Park on Thursday to discuss the proposals by health bosses.

Edmonton MP Andy Love, who organised the meeting at Bush Hill Park Primary School, said: "The meeting was very animated and demonstrated the deep level of public apprehension about these proposed changes."

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Chase Farm all the way.
Oh, what risk it is to ride to Barnet far away.
Jingle bells, number swell, we need A and E,
Not in just one hospital
In two or even three.

Dashing through the snow,
Lights flash, sirens blow,
Forty minutes still to go,
Barnet's far away.

Oh what pain we'd have,
We might even die,
With twice as many of us to see,
How will you meet supply?