The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists today urged the government to change the law, arguing women should not face criminal charges for having abortions without the certification of two medics.

President Dr Edward Morris said women should be free to have an abortion without fear of prosecution.

This comes as a woman today revealed how she suffers flashbacks after spending two years in jail for taking abortion pills at home.

Two British women also face jail under an obscure 160-year-old law, accused of taking legal prescription drugs to ‘procure a miscarriage’.

The 1967 Abortion Act legalises terminations in England, Wales and Scotland up to 23 weeks.