CREEPY & SINISTER

Campaigners plead with antl-abortio group to halt vigils’ outside hospital

- RUTH SUTER

AN anti-abortion group is set to stage a fresh wave of protests outside Scottish clinics - despite new laws to prevent such demos.

Texas-based religious organisation 40 Days for Life, which claims to have several hundred volunteers in Scotland, plans to hold daily "silent vigils" outside Chalmers Clinic in Edinburgh, from September 25 until November 3.

Activity will begin just one day after the Safe Access Zones Bill comes into effect in Scotland. The law, passed in June, makes it illegal for anyone to hold vigils or protests within 200 metres of any clinic providing abortion services.

Designed to protect women from harassment, it was overwhelmingly backed by MSPs at Holyrood with only one vote against it. Reacting to the latest plans, campaigners said they "will no longer be tolerated".