AN OXFORDSHIRE campaign set up to end the IVF 'postcode lottery' has 'against all odds' passed a crucial barrier to getting a change in the law.

Abingdon couple Emily and Ben Scott set up a petition calling for changes to the current NHS provision - which depends on where people live - but were left 'stunned' yesterday morning to discover it would close at the end of the day due to the December 12 election.

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If it did not reach 10,000 signatures by midnight there was no hope of any Government responding to it - despite it already having more than 7,000 signatures.

Ms Scott tweeting yesterday via her IVF Fairness campaign account, as the signatures passed 10,000, wrote: "This evening, against all odds, amazing people all over the country took us from 7,000 signatures to over 10,000 IN MERE HOURS!

"We are overwhelmed from the support we’ve received and fully intend to hold the next govt. to account to respond."

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Ms Scott added thanks to the 'incredible' people who shared the story online, adding: "There is fight in us yet, and it WILL lead to positive change."

An email from the House of Commons petitions team sent to all those who had signed the IVF petition explained closing earlier than the original February 2020 date was because parliament would be dissolved, which meant all parliamentary business – including petitions – had to come to an end until after the election.

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It added: "This means the petitions site will be closed and people will not be able to start or sign petitions.

"We’re sorry we weren’t able to give you more notice that this would happen."

It said the petition would be available for people to read on the site but would not be reopened after the election.