AN ABORTION clinic is to close this summer after providing services for more than 40 years.

Wistons Clinic in Dyke Road, Brighton will close its doors at the end of June.

The clinic offers services including abortions, contraception advice, pregnancy testing and miscarriage care.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the charity which runs the clinic, said it will continue to operate until its closure.

It comes after BPAS was unsuccessful in retaining the contract for providing Termination of Pregnancy Services in the city.

The building has now been put up for sale with a starting price of £3 million.

A spokeswoman from BPAS confirmed the closure and said the charity was “placed out of tender” by Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group.

She said: “Wiston’s clinic was one of BPAS’ first, opened more than 40 years ago, when all of our clients needed bed-rest following an abortion.

“With the many changes in the way abortion is now delivered and the introduction of telemedical care for Early Medical Abortion during the pandemic, the number of surgical treatments has reduced significantly, along with the type and length of anaesthetic.

“Because of these changes, it had always been our intention to relocate the surgical service to more suitable premises in Brighton, but having been unsuccessful in our bid, the clinic has been put on the market for sale.”

MSI Reproductive Choices will be delivering abortion services in Brighton from July 1.

Wistons Clinic has previously been targeted by pro-life campaigners who claimed to be offering help and support to women as they headed into the building.

Feminist groups said their presence was intimidating to vulnerable people making difficult decisions.

Campaigners slammed proposals to introduce buffer zones around clinics that would help to prevent women from being approached when entering or leaving the clinic.