Pharmacists have been given the go-ahead to prescribe the morning-after pill over the counter to teenagers in Brighton and Hove.

Eight pharmacists in the city have had special training so they can give the emergency contraception to young people.

The move is part of a campaign by Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust (PCT) to reduce teenage pregnancies.

Health bosses hope to extend the scheme to include all pharmacists in the city.

But the move has angered some pro-life organisations and religious groups who believe making emergency contraception more accessible will encourage promiscuity.

The morning-after pill is already available from GPs and family planning clinics but including pharmacies means teenagers can get easy and speedy access to it.

The teenage pregnancy rate for Brighton and Hove between 1998 to 2000 was 49.6 per 1,000 girls aged between 15 and 17. The average for England is 44.9.

There were 214 births and 289 abortions during this time.

A PCT spokesman said: "It is extremely important young people can get hold of emergency contraception as soon as it is needed.

"But this alone will not reduce teenage pregnancy in the city. Just as important is educating young people about sex and relationships and improving the advice they get."

The Government has introduced a new target for health organisations to halve the number of teenage pregnancies in their area by 2010.