A DOCTOR who faces being hauled before the General Medical Council has won the first stage of his battle.

Dr Peter Mansfield was reported to the GMC for offering parents an alternative to the triple MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) injection, which some fear can damage children's health.

The Desumo clinic in Worcester, where Dr Mansfield works, was contacted by local mother Deborah Ryding and has been giving separate injections to Ledbury children.

Dr Mansfield was due to appear before the GMC's Interim Orders Committee on Wednesday, September 26.

A spokesman said: "We have been carrying out further inquiries in preparation for the hearing. Following these, we have been unable to find sufficient evidence to support the application for an interim order.

"We have therefore withdrawn the case from the Interim Orders Committee and the hearing will not go ahead on September 26. However, our investigations continue."

Dr Mansfield said the GMC's decision was a vindication of his position.

"The investigation is being left to the Preliminary Proceeding Committee, which will take many months," he said. "This is a clear indication that they do not regard what I am doing as a threat to anyone's health.

"The GMC's own lawyers looked into this and found there was no case against me."

Mrs Ryding said: "Dr Mansfield was not acting outside any guidelines. There is nothing illegal in anything he has done."

She said since the case went public they had been inundated by support.

"I received over 1,000 letters to forward to the GMC and Peter had more," she said.

Janet Ferguson, of Worcestershire Health Authority, which reported Dr Mansfield to the GMC, said: "We note the GMC's decision and we await the main hearing."