11-year-olds can can text for morning-after pills in Britain

Girls as young as 11 will now be able to request the morning-after pill through SMSes under a controversial scheme in Britain.

Health officials want to make getting emergency help easier for schoolgirls who might be too embarrassed to ask for information in person.

Six secondary schools will take part in the pilot scheme to cut teenage pregnancies.

But if it is a success it could roll out across the country. Child protection staff will step in if any girl aged between 11 and 13 uses the service.

Oxfordshire health and county council chiefs, who are running the scheme, said, "This service would provide an extra level of support for those young people who think they have taken a risk and don't want to approach a doctor or a pharmacist."

Kids will be given the mobile number of their school nurse, who they can text for advice on a range of issues including contraception.

The nurse will then direct the pupil to the relevant help group u2014 such as a family planning clinic. Contraceptives will not be handed out at schools.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said, "This runs the risk of encouraging unprotected intercourse."

But Hilary Pannack, of teen pregnancy charity Straight Talking, said, "If it means them not going through the trauma of abortion, it's valuable."