REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has suffered a health relapse following a surgical procedure at the Alexandra Hospital in October. 

The MP was unable to carry out much of her parliamentary work until Christmas, and did not start carrying out constituency visits and meetings until late November.

Her recovery suffered a serious setback last week and she had to return home in Redditch, where she will remain.

She will not be able to attend Parliament or undertake constituency visits until at least the end of January.

Mrs Lumley said: "I am very upset and disappointed as I love my job and put all that I can into it.

"However I do need to be fully fit to be able to undertake the job properly, and the right course of action is that I stay at home in the short term.

"I am very keen to stress that much of my business will carry on as usual, and my offices in Redditch and in Westminster will continue to operate as normal.

"I can fully monitor emails and other correspondence, so anyone with any constituency matters should continue to contact me in the usual way."