The fate of Epsom Hospital under a Labour government remains unknown after a plea to Andy Burnham to guarantee its future has gone unanswered.

Mr Burnham, who is likely to be appointed health secretary if a Labour government comes to power, spoke out to support St Helier hospital, in Sutton, last week, over leaked plans which could see it and Epsom closed and replaced with an 800-bed super site.

But Sheila Carlson, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Epsom and Ewell, has yet to receive a reply from Mr Burnham after asking him to provide the same guarantee for Epsom Hospital.

LAST WEEK: Andy Burnham says "St Helier hospital must stay on current site"

EARLIER THIS MONTH: Secret plans to close Epsom and St Helier and build new "super hospital" overheard on train

Instead, Ms Carlson took to the streets of the market town with ballot papers and a ballot box on Saturday to gauge public opinion about the threat to the hospital.

Your Local Guardian:

Labour's Andy Burnham has not said he would support Epsom Hospital as health secretary

Speaking about her ballot in the town centre, the 62-year-old said: "I was outside Metro Bank for about four hours and spoke to 225 people who voted.

"One just wanted a new build hospital and didn't mind where it was and the rest, 224, all wanted Epsom to retain its hospital with all its services."

She added :"The ballot papers did not ask for personal details.

"Unlike the Lib Dems in Sutton I was not asking for emails for political purposes on a petition which will never be handed in.

"People were thanking us for being there and giving them the chance to express an opinion."

After this article was published Ms Carlson released this statement:

"What is crystal clear from Andy Burnham's comments on the future of St Helier is that there will be no proposed super-hospital merging Epsom and St Helier under the next Labour government.

"The recent concerns about the future of Epsom Hospital have come about due to management consultants being overheard on a commuter train making a conference call after meeting the trust chief executive Daniel Elkeles.

"The Labour manifesto is committed to repealing the Health and Social Care Act and restoring proper democratic accountability for the NHS.

"It is the coalition government's top-down reorganisation of the NHS, which no one voted for, which has made the current uncertainty possible.

"I commit myself to continuing to do what I have done through my whole political career and fight for the best possible hospital and health services here in Epsom."

For more General Election 2015 coverage visit www.epsomguardian.co.uk/generalelection2015.