An attempt to get the legal limit for abortions cut from 24 to 22 weeks has failed in the House of Commons.

Ann Widdecombe, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, was amongst Pro Life MPs demanding a change to the law following claims that babies aborted at 24 weeks are capable of feeling pain.

"There’s been a growing unease about the operation of the upper time limit," the Conservative MP said.

"We also have to remember that there are two lives involved, not just the woman but that of the child."

Last night her appeal for the limit to be reduced failed by 304 votes to 223 following an impassioned debate.

During the discussion former nurse and Tory MP Nadine Dorries spoke of the botched late abortion of a baby boy she witnessed when she was a gynaecological nurse.

She said that although a woman had the right to choose, the foetus also had the right not to be terminated if it could survive outside the womb and might feel pain in the process of being aborted.

But MPs who supported keeping the limit at 24 weeks said reducing it was misinformed, cruel and inhumane to women who, very often, were in desperate circumstances.

Seven million abortions have been carried out in England and Wales since the introduction of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Most abortions now take place before nine weeks' gestation.

Full story in this Friday's Kent Messenger.