INDEPENDENT experts will examine evidence on hormone pregnancy tests thanks to a Bolton MP's two year campaign.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, led a parliamentary debate on the drug Primodos on Thursday.

Ms Qureshi and Little Lever mum, Nichola Williams, claim the drug caused deformities in babies after it was prescribed to pregnant women in the sixties and seventies.

Heath Minister George Freeman agreed to set up an independent panel and disclose all documents on the issue between 1953 and 1978.

Ms Qureshi said: "This is a huge step in the right direction and indeed a small victory in the bid for Justice.”

MPs heard doctors were encouraged to hide or destroy documents that proved the drugs caused deformities in babies.

Miss Williams, of Little Lever, was born with life-threatening congenital health issues, which she claims were caused by the drug Primodos that her mother was prescribed while pregnant.

The 42-year-old said she was delighted the panel was being set up. She said: "This is fantastic news - not just for me but for all the other victims who aren't alive to fight for justice."

The hormone drug produced by Schering, a German company later taken over by Bayer, was given to women in the UK by GPs in the 1960s and 1970s as a pregnancy test.

Miss Williams claims to have uncovered mounting evidence that the Government was warned about the dangers of pregnancy testing drugs as far back as 1967.

A spokesman for Bayern said: “As previously stated, Bayer denies that Primodos was responsible for causing any deformities in children. We are aware of the decision for a review by an Independent Panel and we await further information on the scope and timelines for this review going forward.”