A British surrogacy firm is paying poverty-stricken Mexican women £12,000 to have a child.

My Surrogacy Journey (MSJ) has been accused of cashing in on the practice in a country where mothers can be recruited for a fraction of the rate charged elsewhere.

Campaigners are calling on the Government to bring an end to the trade, which has seen the British agency become the first to set up an overseas office to arrange surrogates.

Mexico has become increasingly popular for surrogacy because it allows pre-birth arrangements that see mothers sign away their rights to a child before it is born.

Additionally, Mexican mothers are paid just £12,000, compared with the £250,000 American surrogates receive.