Women should have better access to abortion services, a leading sexual health charity has argued.

In a report published on Wednesday, the Family Planning Association called for an end to the need for two doctors' signatures before a termination is performed.

The charity argued that other changes to the 1967 Abortion Act, such as allowing trained nurses to conduct surgical and medical abortions and allowing them to be carried out in family planning clinics and GP surgeries, would improve access at the earliest stages of pregnancy.

In addition the FPA highlighted a "postcode lottery" both in the availability of services, and in the proportion of terminations paid for by the NHS.

While 79 per cent of abortions performed in North East Lincolnshire in 2001 were before the 10-week point, this was true of just over a quarter in Great Yarmouth.

In the same year, 96 per cent of operations were paid for by the NHS in Coventry, compared to just half in Kingston and Richmond in Surrey.

"Many women find themselves ruled out of suitable, safe methods of early abortion due to delays in the system or inadequate funding at local level," said FPA chief executive Anne Weyman.

"Such inequalities in service provision are deplorable and unjust."

"We need an abortion service fit for the 21st century," she added.

"Current procedures are in severe need of an overhaul and are failing women at a time when they are most vulnerable. Services must be modernised to incorporate changes that will benefit the one in three women who will have an abortion during her lifetime."