Pro-life campaigners could be banned from protesting outside a Brighton abortion clinic.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service - which runs Wistons Clinic, in Dyke Road, Brighton – is calling for a change in the law to create buffer zones directly around clinics to protect patients from what they say is harassment from anti-abortion activists.

Campaigners stage weekly protests outside the Brighton clinic – including graphic posters and pictures of aborted foetuses.

Women attending the clinic have reported feeling intimidated and harassed by the demonstrators.

One patient confronted by protestors at the Brighton clinic said: “There were graphic images of foetuses and what looked like a camera on a tripod which I found intimidating.”

Andy Stephenson from the Worthing-based Pro-life group Abort 67 said the proposal was an attack on freedom of speech.

He said: “There are already statutory prohibitions relating to harassment. We invite the police to attend all of our displays. If they saw illegal behaviour they would arrest us.

“Outside the clinic is the final chance these women have of being informed of the facts on abortion as they will not be properly informed inside an abortion clinic.

“We are concerned about the plight of the women who will elect abortion if the abortion pictures are concealed but reject abortion if the abortion pictures are displayed.”

The Back Off campaign to create buffer zones is supported by more than 30 groups including the Royal College of Midwives.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: “One in three women will have an abortion. These activists don’t stop women needing abortions. They simply make what is already a difficult day that much harder.

“Women should feel confident that they can approach centres for pregnancy advice and abortion care without fear of intimidation, or anxious that their identity will be compromised by protesters filming outside.

“Zones free from anti-abortion activists around clinics would provide the reassurance and security women need. “We have no desire to close debate down – but women arriving at clinics aren’t coming for a debate. They are coming to access a confidential medical service, and should be left alone.”

Police have limited powers to halt pro-life protests. Activists were arrested in 2012 for public order offences after refusing to take down a poster showing an aborted foetus but were cleared by Brighton magistrates.