Last Wednesday marked the 43rd anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act.

This anniversary largely went unnoticed in the public arena, mainly, I believe, due to the widespread ignorance of the British public to the full facts regarding abortion.

How many people realise that more than 208,000 abortions were carried out last year in the UK? That equates to 17,000 abortions per month – nearly 600 per day.

I wonder just how many of the MPs and Lords who voted on this issue in 1967 would ever have imagined within four decades, that seven million babies would be aborted, or that the reasons for abortion would have become so relaxed over the years.

Recently, Comres – a member of the British Polling Council – conducted a survey of more than 1,000 British adults on this issue, and the findings were very enlightening.

Only three per cent of British adults accurately estimated the figure to within 50,000. Indeed 30 per cent thought that the annual total was less than 10 per cent of the actual figure, and four out of 10 had no idea at all.

When the true figure was revealed, the majority said that it was too high, and that ways should be found to reduce it. For too long abortion has been a taboo subject; a situation that will only compound the problems that abortion brings.

Apart from the general disregard for the sanctity of life, there is growing evidence of the serious consequences of abortion to mothers,including potential damage to their physical and mental health.

Perhaps it is time for society to take a look at itself, and face up to the hidden scale and consequences of abortion ,and stop and think: 200,000 abortions – have we gone too far?

Steve Jack Vale/Oxon Society for Protection of Unborn Children Damson Trees Shrivenham