From the BBC News website.

The government has played down reports that the contraceptive pill will be available over the counter.

It comes after health minister Lord Darzi said a pilot scheme would look at pharmacists offering the pill.

But the Department of Health said the scheme would involve training pharmacists in England to prescribe the pill in the same way a GP would.

Many campaigners welcomed the move to widen access, pointing out the UK has high rates of teenage pregnancy.

Figures are twice as high as in Germany, three times as high as in France and six times as high as in the Netherlands.

The pill is currently only available with a prescription, but pharmacies are able to dispense "the morning after pill" without a doctor's signature.

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