THE provision of the controversial morning after pill in schools and supermarkets was the main issue discussed at the latest meeting of the Bury branch of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).

At the meeting, held at the Bury Baptist Hall, members were told that the Government was backing the promotion of the pills among children under 16 without parental knowledge or consent.

Yet, the delegates were told, no clinical trials specific to that age group had been carried out. SPUC claims that the drug is very powerful and is 50 times that of the daily mini-pill.

The meeting heard that school nurses and pharmacists in supermarkets were allowed to supply the pills to young girls, without reference to medical records .

SPUC also says that the pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, the incidence of which is increasing.

In order to encourage young people to behave responsibly, the group has supplied local schools and colleges with educational videos and materials.

SPUC has urged people who are not happy with the distribution of the morning-after pill to visit or write to their local supermarkets and voice their concerns.