The service was due to reopen on 29 September following suspension in August due to staffing shortages but the hospital said it had not been able to recruit a sufficient workforce.

North Devon District Hospital said it remained committed to reopening the service ‘as soon as possible' and was continuing in its efforts to recruit temporary and substantive staff, including international recruitment.

A report to Devon County Council's Health and Adult Social Care Committee said there had been 106 births since the start of the closure with fewer than five births taking place outside labour and delivery environments. A healthcare professional was present at all births.

The councillors pledged to write again to the health and social care secretary seeking an urgent meeting and response to its initial requests for support.

The committee also called for a task force to be set up between Devon County Council, NHS Devon, NHS Devon ICB.

In addition, it called for Royal Devon and NHS Devon ICB to provide a detailed reopening plan for maternity services.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We have made clear that the temporary closure of North Devon District Hospital is unacceptable, and that the trust is required to have clear plans in place to ensure mothers and babies are supported and kept safe for as long as that temporary closure continues. They will need to account for what went wrong in this case.

‘As the Prime Minister told the House of Commons earlier this month, we expect this situation to be resolved as soon as possible, and the health secretary has been in regular contact with the chief executive of NHS England towards that end.'