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"Women's lives have been put at risk" by the government's decision to allow women unable to access a clinic to take abortion pills at home during the coronavirus outbreak, the High Court has heard.

Christian Concern says the temporary change to UK abortion policy is unlawful and "unsafe for pregnant women".

It is bringing legal action against the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) after ministers ruled women can have medical abortions at home up to 10 weeks into pregnancy, providing they have had a phone or video consultation with a doctor.

The change in abortion rules is limited for two years or until the coronavirus crisis is over.

At a hearing in London on Tuesday, the faith group's barrister Michael Phillips told the court that "for the last half a century" women have had protections under the Abortion Act 1967 and "as a result of this amendment, those have been lost".

Mr Phillips also said: "This is not just about abortion procedures to be followed in the pandemic, it is about the usurping of proper parliamentary procedure."

In documents filed to the court, Mr Phillips claimed the government had failed to take into account the physical and psychological risks of women having abortions at home.

He argued that women could be coerced into a termination, take abortion drugs prescribed for someone else or outside the 10-week gestation limit.

But the government's barrister Julia Smyth claimed the Christian group's case was "unarguable".

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She told the court ministers had the powers to make the decision, which was based on "ample evidence of its safety".

Ms Smyth said the changes were made "in response to mounting concern about the safety of patients and health practitioners if special arrangements were not introduced" and "emerging evidence including about clinic closures, caused by the pandemic, with the result that significant numbers of women would have been unable to access early medical abortion if action were not taken".

She said: "The decision was clearly a rational and lawful response to unfolding events."

Abortions can take place in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales at a clinic or hospital.

Women ending a pregnancy in its first 10 weeks have to take two pills 24 to 48 hours apart.

In 2018, England followed Scotland and Wales by allowing the second pill to be taken at home in some cases.

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Christian Concern revealed it would be pursuing legal action last month after a double government U-turn over abortion rules during the coronavirus crisis.

Ministers originally said doctors would be allowed to prescribe abortion pills from home, but hours later said the changes had been "published in error".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock clarified abortion policy would stay the same during the outbreak - days before it changed again to say medical abortions would be permitted at home in the circumstances.

The hearing continues.