THE £42,000 Barnet cabinet mailshot advising residents to vote against NHS plans for stroke and trauma services contained an incorrect email address.

The correct email address for residents to write to with comments on the consultation is hfl@ipsos.com - rather than hlf@ipsos.com, as stated in the letter.

The mistake has led to more than 150 messages being sent to an employee at market research company Ipsos.

The recipient said he was "none too pleased" about the error.

A spokesman for Barnet Council said no replies had been lost due to the typo.

The letters had already attracted criticism from opposition leaders for being too overtly political and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Council leader Mike Freer insisted the letters, which cost £42,346, were designed to help “save the Royal Free”.

Read the NHS proposals at healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk