EAST Lancashire MPs told today how they struggled to reach decisions before voting on human embryo research.

MPs opted by a majority of 192 for a change in the law which would allow scientists to clone embryos up to 14 days old and extract stem cells from them.

Pro-life opponents expressed horror at the move, claiming it was fundamentally immoral and would lead inevitably to the cloning of human beings.

But the decision was applauded by research and patient groups who have argued that embryonic stem cells -- unprogrammed cells with the potential to become any type of human tissue -- could revolutionise medicine.

Burnley MP Peter Pike, a devout member of the Church of England, said that he did not make his mind up how to vote until halfway through the debate.

He said: "I'm not in favour of cloning, but this was not a vote about cloning, it was a vote about tackling dreadful diseases such as Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

"I have been thinking about this very carefully and I listened closely to most of what was an extremely good debate. "I didn't make my mind up finally until I heard much of the debate when I decided that I was in favour of the change.

"If it turns out that we can do the research on adult cells rather than embryos, all well and good."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "It is a really difficult ethical issue. I spent a lot of time thinking and worrying about this.

"I read all the correspondence I was sent by constituents, religious groups and pressure groups such as the Parkinson's Society.

"In the end I wasn't convinced there was a compelling argument to go ahead with the change in the law now."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans also opposed the move but Blackburn MP and Home Secretary Jack Straw, Pendle MP Gordon Prentice and Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson supported the measure.