Controversial protest group The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is to take direct action against branches of Boots in Twickenham and Richmond.

Members of the group are angry with the high street chemist's decision to hold sexual health clinics in some of their stores, which could include giving contraceptives to under 16's without involving their parents.

Josie Goble, co-ordinator for the Twickenham Branch of SPUC, said: "We will be handing out leaflets outside branches of Boots in Richmond and Twickenham over the next few weeks. We do not think it is a good idea to kit out children with contraceptives.

"This is a moral issue and children should be taught in school about loving relationships. People should know when they are doing something wrong and we believe this is wrong."

The SPUC has been in existence for more than 30 years and Josie has been involved for the last nine. She added:

"This is something I feel very strongly about. In our view Boots' proposals are dangerous to unborn children. As a group we are more concerned with the morning-after-pill which effectively kills an unborn child. It is abortion by another name."

But Boots in King Street, Twickenham, are not planning to hold the surgeries.

A spokesman for the store said: "We are not holding these clinics and have not had any body from the society coming in and making a fuss.

"As a company Boots would not do any thing illegal or anything that would put a person in danger."

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