Forty years after the coming into force of the Abortion Act 1967 it is hard to believe that, today, women are fighting one of the biggest threats to their right to an abortion.

Amendments attached to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons on Monday, are seeking to reduce the upper time limit at which women can access abortion from 24 weeks to 20 weeks.

Fewer than 2% of abortions take place after 20 weeks, but those that do tend to involve the most vulnerable women.

These women face unusual and difficult circumstances such as late diagnosis of pregnancy, rape or domestic abuse, and NHS delays.

Reducing the time limit could force these desperate women to seek dangerous and illegal back-street abortions - a procedure that killed more than 50 women in the 12 months prior to the legalisation introduced 40 years ago.

An overwhelming majority of people - 83% - support a woman's right to choose.

Any lowering of the time limit is opposed by the British Medical Association, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Association of Peri-natal Medicine, Royal College of Nursing, Department of Health, the Commons Science and Technology Committee, MPs from all three main parities, trade unions, women's and student organisations.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is a welcome and progressive piece of legislation which must not be used as an attack on a woman's right to access a termination by the ongoing pro-life campaign to remove any rights to abortion.

J Merchant, 9 Eddie Avenue, Brechin.