THE Westmorland branch of The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is to distribute leaflets outside local chemists warning women about what they see as the "dangers and true nature of the morning-after pill."

It became legal for chemists to provide the emergency contraception to women aged over 16 without prescription from January 1 this year.

The over-the-counter form of the contraception, called Levonelle, will go on sale from January 30.

The pro-life campaigners believe that the Government's presentation of the morning-after pill as 'emergency contraception' is "dishonest and misleading."

Local SPUC member Esther Williams said: "The morning-after pill can cause an early abortion - not to inform women of that vital fact is an insult.

This is turning chemists into front-line abortion providers."

Speaking on behalf of Co-op Pharmacies, whose Carnforth branch has received a protest letter, Lindsey Fairbrother said she felt "it was inappropriate to target chemists in this way".

"Pharmacists have been dispensing the morning-after pill for some time.

The only change is that it will now be provided over-the-counter but with the same protocols and counselling to the client."

Every pharmacist in the country has received guidelines on the supply of the morning-after pill from The Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

They include the recommendation that "clients should be given advice on how emergency hormonal contraception works so that those who believe life begins at fertilisation can make an informed choice."