A Spanish religious group claims that screening for Down's syndrome has led to the abortion of almost half of all foetuses with the condition, writes Graham Keeley.

The Fundación Vida, a group with 2,000 members - most of whom are Catholic while some are Protestant - says that the number of children with Down's syndrome has fallen in Spain from one in 600 to one in 1,000.

The group claims that more women are deciding to have abortions rather than give birth to a child with Down's syndrome. Manuel Cruz, director of the foundation, said: "In Spain the age of motherhood is later, while the incidence of Down's syndrome is falling. This brings us to the conclusion that children with Down's syndrome are in danger of extinction.

"The incidence of Down's syndrome has fallen by almost half, owing to prenatal tests and selective abortions. In Spain in 15 years, we have gone from one case in 600 to one per 1,000. The consequence is that many of those children who could have been happy with their families are among those 1.1 million foetuses who have been aborted since Spain legalised abortion in 1985."