Sue Axon believes parents have a right to be told

Single mother Sue Axon, 51, of Baguley in Manchester, wants the law to be changed to stop under-16s seeking confidential advice on contraception.

Mrs Axon regrets a termination she had herself 20 years ago that caused her "guilt, shame and depression".

Her QC Philip Havers said the issue goes to the "heart of family life."

He told Mr Justice Silber: "They are issues parents and children - and society as a whole - would expect parents to advise their children about.

Society cannot expect parents to carry out their responsibilities if they are kept in the dark Philip Havers QC

"Family life depends upon relationships of trust and openness and respect and transparency between family members - not on secrecy, or what might have to be lies on the part of the children in relation to what they are doing.

"The latter is surely anathema to family life.

"Society cannot expect parents to carry out their responsibilities if they are kept in the dark."

Current guidelines state terminations can take place without parents' consent and doctors should respect girls' privacy.

But Mr Havers said the rules were "manifestly an interference with family life" and breached Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

'Reduce' pregnancies

Following her own experience, Mrs Axon said she wants to be there for her daughters if they are ever in the same position.

She said she does not want to prevent young people from receiving treatment, but said she was defending parents' "right to know".