The Lloyds Pharmacy group is set to investigate an incident at one of its Sheffield pharmacies which saw a woman refused the contraceptive pill on religious grounds.

According to Janine Deeley, the female pharmacist on duty at the store refused to hand over the drug because it went against her religious beliefs.

A Lloyds Pharmacy spokesperson said: "Lloyds Pharmacy is very sorry that Ms Deeley was refused supply of her prescribed contraceptive pill at our Duke Street pharmacy.

"We have launched an investigation into the incident and have been in contact with her to apologise for any distress and inconvenience caused."

According to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), the pharmacist in question was acting within their rights to refuse to provide a service that ran counter to their religious beliefs.

However, a spokesperson from the society said: "A failure to have systems in place to advise of alternative sources for the service required, would be of great concern to the RPSGB."