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In a new departure, pregnant women in northern Italy are to be offered 4,500 euros not to have abortions. The idea comes from the governor of the Lombardy region, Roberto Formigoni, who says no woman should end a pregnancy because of economic difficulty.

The women would have to prove they are in financial hardship in order to qualify for the 18 monthly payments. The policy has been welcomed by pro-life campaigners, including the Italian Bishops' Conference who responded to the new policy by saying: "Anything that respects life is to be applauded."

Mr Formigoni, a political ally of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said he wanted to support "the family, motherhood and births". Recently Italy was shocked by the death of a child left to die after a failed abortion

Abortion has been legal in Italy since 1978.