High street chemist Boots has threatened a charity with legal action over a campaign urging the company to reduce the price of the morning-after pill for women, it was revealed yesterday.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) launched its push for affordable emergency contraception last November, pointing out that nearly all the larger pharmacy firms have lowered the price to about £13.50.

Boots was charging £28.25 for Levonelle and £26.75 for its own generic version, which BPAS said was more than any of its major rivals charged.