Selby's Catholic Church leader today condemned plans for over-the-counter sales of the morning-after-pill to women as young as 16.

The hormonal contraceptive will be on sale in chemists early in the New Year at about £20 a course after being given the all-clear this week by ministers.

But Father John Aveyard, Roman Catholic priest from St Mary's Church, in Gowthorpe, Selby, said the pill was tantamount to a "chemical abortion", and warned of long-term emotional trauma.

The Department of Health has been advised that the controversial drug is safe and should be freely available from chemists without the need for a doctor's prescription.

But some critics fear that chemists will not be able to stop under-age girls from buying the drug in a country which already has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe.

The move follows a trial in Manchester which experts say resulted in the prevention of 700 unwanted pregnancies in less than six months.

But today Father Aveyard said: "Our church's teaching is that life begins at the moment of conception, and that the act of lovemaking is sacred.

"The morning-after-pill can't be a contraceptive because the lovemaking has already taken place. The only way it can work is by destroying what has been conceived."

He said the "contraceptive mentality" of the western world was bad news for women, and he was one of many priests who could tell tragic and very emotionally-charged stories about abortion and the after effects.

"They think it can be an easy choice, but of course it never is. It's often a very emotional time for them, and can take a lot of healing," said Father Aveyard.

"Since contraceptives became widely available, there has also been a huge increase in teenage pregnancies and in the number of men abdicating their responsibilities."

He added: "My concern is for their welfare, and the ministers of the church would try not to turn their backs on anybody."

The Medicines Control Agency has cleared the pills for sale by chemists, and Health Secretary Alan Milburn had now laid an order in Parliament.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said the pills should be available over-the-counter by the end of next month..

Amanda Callaghan, from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said critics should leave women to take responsibility for their own actions.

She said: "In an emergency it's better to take this pill than risk an unplanned pregnancy."

Boots The Chemist confirmed it would be stocking the pill once the order had gone through Parliament.