Pro-life Christian groups are appealing to Christians to pray and take action to stop legislation that will liberalise the abortion law and give the green light to the creation of animal-human hybrid embryos.

The House of Commons will vote on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill on October 22 after it passed a second reading in May by 340 votes to 78.

Pro-life groups are concerned over provisions in the Bill that remove "the need for a father" for children born as a result of IVF treatment, and allow the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for the purposes of research and "saviour siblings" to help treat seriously ill brothers and sisters.

"This Bill is one of the most destructive pieces of legislation that we will see in our lifetime. It is anti-life, anti-family and anti-God," said Andrea Minichiello Williams, director of Christian Concern for our Nation.

"It will liberalise abortion law, create animal-human hybrids and create fatherless families unless we pray and act to stop it. Will you do so? Each person's contribution counts."

Christian Concern and other groups, including Christian Medical Fellowship, are urging Christians to take part in the EuroProLife Group's "1000 Crosses for Life" rally in Westminster on 18 October.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, meanwhile, is asking people to write to MPs and Prime Minister Gordon Brown to express their opposition to the HFE Bill.

"We know that MPs are receiving many letters," he added, "and we must reinforce this with phone calls too. Please do all you can. Please act now before it's too late to protect unborn children."