NHS family planning clinics in Abingdon and Kidlington are earmarked to close this year because of a shortage of funds.

Opening times of Oxford's family planning service, the Alec Turnbull Clinic at East Oxford Health Centre, are also likely to be cut.

The proposals have been called a "false economy" by Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris, because of the risk of more unwanted pregnancies.

And Director of Oxfordshire's family planning services, Dr Liz Greenhall, has accepted the moves are a "matter of regret".

Abingdon's clinic operates at Abingdon Hospital, in Marcham Road, on Wednesdays from 4.30 to 8pm, and Kidlington's is at Exeter Close, on Mondays from 5 to 8.30pm.

Each deals with about 400 patients a year who prefer not to see their GP for advice on contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Dr Greenhall said Oxford City Primary Care Trust, which runs the clinics, needed £40,000 to keep them going but said the cash was not available because of an overspend by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

She said the withdrawal of the service from Abingdon and Kidlington was unlikely to happen before the autumn but her team had to be realistic about finances.

"It's a matter of regret and disheartening for our staff," she said.

Dr Greenhall added that the proposals were particularly unfortunate because the House of Commons select committee on health recently declared a "public health crisis" due to the spread of STIs.

A spokesman for Oxford City PCT, Penny Astrop, said consultation over the future of the three clinics was on-going.