PLANS to make Viagra available over the counter have been criticised by a Bolton doctor.

Dr Eric Curless, who helped in the development of the sex pill, claims moves to make it easy to buy at chemists would be wrong.

At the moment, the anti-impotence drug is available on prescription only on the agreement of a doctor.

But plans by the government to re-classify many medicines to cut NHS costs could mean the pill being made legally available over the counter by August.

Dr Curless runs a sexual health clinic in Chorley New Road and was principal investigator into Viagra for the manufacturer Pfizer.

He says news laws would not be welcomed by the medical profession.

Dr Curless, who has just returned from a national conference on Viagra, said: "I firmly believe that this is years and years away.

"These proposals have been met without any enthusiasm at all from the medical profession. Men who have a sexual dysfunction, often also have an underlying illness or condition which needs treatment.

"I am picking these up all the time in clinic. The danger is if men go to the chemist to treat the impotence, without checking out any underlying cause.

"Plus the manufacturer of the drug, Pfizer has not even shown any interest in having the licence for Viagra changed. At the end of the day, it will only become available when they also change the licence agreement."