A pro-life campaigner has been handed a restraining order after protesting outside a south Manchester abortion clinic.

The woman - who has not been named by police - was charged with a public order offence following an incident outside the Marie Stopes Clinic, in Fallowfield.

She appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on October 10 when she pleaded guilty to a public order offence.

The defendant was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and handed a 12-month restraining order.

Police say the woman was “anti-abortion protesting” when the incident happened, during an ongoing 40-day vigil by pro-life protesters.

An officer shared details of the conviction on Greater Manchester Police Fallowfield, Withington, Levenshulme & Burnage Facebook page.

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They wrote: “A female has been convicted and sentenced at court receiving a 12 Month Conditional Discharge and a 12 Month Restraining Order for a Public Order Offence committed whilst anti-abortion protesting outside of the Marie Stopes Clinic, Wynnstay Grove, Fallowfield.”

The 40 Days For Life protest started on Wynnstay Grove at the end of September.

The internationally coordinated campaign - led by Texas-based prayer group '40 Days for Life' - aims to 'end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses'.

It is understood that their 40-day ‘vigil’ will end next month.

Manchester City Council recently launched an eight-week consultation about a proposed ‘buffer zone’ outside the clinic, enforced by a Public Space Protection Order.

Staff at the Marie Stopes clinic - which offers a range of contraceptive treatment including vasectomies and abortions - say they have been subjected to abuse from protesters for years.

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Staff say they have been subjected to verbal abuse, pushing and shoving and say they have found their tyres popped with nails.

Last year Ealing Council made history by imposing a 100-metre buffer zone banning activists from protesting or 'harassing' women outside the town’s Marie Stopes abortion clinic.