POLITICAL activists took the streets of Stockton and Bishop Auckland on Saturday to oppose a trade deal with the USA which they argue could cause serious financial problems for the NHS.

Campaigners handed out leaflets and tried to persuade members of the public to hear about the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP) which would mean free trade between the EU and the USA.

Opponents of the deal are worried that it could force NHS Trusts across the country to open up to American private healthcare providers and claim large American companies could sue the British Government if profits are minimised.

Volunteers from the 38 Degrees campaign group handed out leaflets by Stockton Town Hall and a similar effort was made in Bishop Auckland and at various towns across the country.

Urfan Ali, a 38 Degrees member from Stockton, said: “This deal is being negotiated in secret and will prove to be very dangerous for many aspects of British life.

"For example; TTIP could affect every part of our lives: from watering-down environmental protections to lowering food safety standards to American levels.

"That’s why I’m dead against this awful trade deal."

Advocates of the deal say that it would liberalise one-third of global trade which they argue would create millions of new paid jobs