The British House of Commons is poised to decriminalise abortion next month meaning women can abort babies beyond the 24-week limit – when a baby is viable outside the womb – and face no legal sanctions.

Less than one in four MPs favour criminal action in such cases.

Women can be jailed under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act if they have an abortion outside set circumstances.

An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, due to be voted on in the House of Commons means the 1861 law would no longer apply to women ending their the life of their own unborn babies in the third trimester of pregnancy during which time abortion remains illegal in Britain in most circumstances.