SUE Axon is reflecting the views of the majority of mothers on the matter of their children's health.

It has always puzzled me that school nurses need written permission from parents before they can give a schoolchild, of whatever age, even a paracetamol for a headache.

Yet any form of contraception or even an abortifacient pill can be handed out without informing the child's parents that she might be having illegal sexual intercourse.

I was under the impression that the age of consent is still 16, therefore any child under 16 who is having sex with anyone of any age is doing so illegally.

They are not old enough to make that decision until they are 16. Indeed they are still their parents' responsibility until they are 18.

It is only in rare circumstances that the parents would not be the best people to decide whether an under-age pregnant girl should have an abortion we cannot always expect the worst-case scenario as our first option. Schools and teachers should concentrate on teaching.

Mrs C Wilson

Milford Road

Great Lever