A leading abortion charity has defended a scheme that has allowed 717 women to abort unwanted babies at home in the past year.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service said yesterday that it was "completely lawful" and beneficial for women who would rather go through the process in the privacy of their homes.

Under the scheme, women less than nine weeks pregnant take the abortion pill RU486, which stops pregnancy by blocking critical hormones. Two days later, they return to an abortion clinic to be given a drug - Misoprostol - which causes the womb to expel its contents. Previously, clients would have had to remain in the clinic for at least four hours as doctors monitored their progress.

BPAS communications director Ann Furedi said: "Last year we started this trial because we were aware of how many women didn't want to hang around in the clinic.

"It seemed to be sensible and appropriate to allow women who are fit and well to leave. We have surveyed these women very closely to find out how they experienced it.

"More than 85% of those who left the clinic felt happy about it and found it a satisfactory way of managing their abortion. Logically it does make sense and it is probably the future of the service in Britain."

She insisted the process was "very close" to a natural early miscarriage, where women were also not admitted to hospital. Mrs Furedi said BPAS wanted to extend the scheme so women could take the drug themselves at home, as already legally approved in South Africa.

About 17 women in every 1,000 of fertile age will have an abortion this year. Abortion was legalised in Britain in 1967.