Measles can result in death

City and Hackney Primary Care Trust (CHPCT) reported 297 cases since June compared with their yearly average of between 10 and 20 cases.

The number of children receiving the measles vaccine fell after research - since discredited - suggested a link between MMR and autism.

CHPCT is now using a mobile unit to boost vaccination rates among children.

Unfortunate episode

Nine years ago a paper by Dr Andrew Wakefield linking MMR with autism was published in the Lancet medical journal.

According to experts, despite the paper failing to present evidence of a link, this was one of the main reasons for the decline in immunisations.

Dr Mike Fitzpatrick, said: "It's been a most unfortunate episode where an unsubstantiated speculative paper has had a major impact on a national immunisation programme.

"So much so that a significant number of people have withdrawn their children from having the vaccination and we have a return of diseases that we thought we had banished."

About one in 10 children will have complications and will be admitted to hospital as a result Gabrielle Laing, consultant community paediatrician

In response to this a special immunisation bus has been touring schools and nurseries in Hackney to bring the outbreak under control.

Over a six week period nurses onboard will offer on-the-spot vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella.

It will also seek to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation among parents and carers.

Consultant community paediatrician in Hackney, Gabrielle Laing, said measles can be a "very serious" disease.

"Its not as mild as many parents think it is. About one in 10 children will have complications and will be admitted to hospital as a result. The worst that could happen is a death."