Health chiefs have admitted that ante-natal classes, which were abruptly suspended last year, will resume in September and not June as originally thought.

The news comes after health minister Ivan Lewis, David Law, chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, and local MPs met last month to specifically discuss the withdrawal of ante-natal classes in south west Hertfordshire.

The cash-strapped trust has also admitted that the area is short of 18 midwives, but an active recruitment programme could see that two-thirds of the positions taken up by the end of the year.

Pregnant women were informed by letter in December that they would not be getting the four two-hour antenatal sessions that used to be offered free as standard.