A mother who believes her daughter's disability was caused by pregnancy test tablets is urging people to back a campaign set up to highlight alleged failings by pharmaceutical companies.

Christine Williams, 85, of Brundall, believes tablets she took back in the 1960s caused her daughter, Helen, to be born epileptic and with severe brain damage.

'Two little pills caused a lifetime of problems,' she claimed.

Campaign group the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests has successfully lobbied the government to set up an inquiry thanks to mid-Norfolk MP George Freeman, minister for life sciences.

The inquiry will examine the use of oral pregnancy tests such as Primodos and Amenorone Forte.

Marie Lyon, chairman of the campaign, said there were 25,000 tablets given to doctors to try on women in the 1960s.

She said many women went on to miscarry or give birth to disabled children.

The review, which is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year, is not a political inquiry intended to demonstrate liability.

It will examine the evidence to see if there are grounds for accepting a link between the use of hormone pregnancy tests and the conditions experienced by some patients.

Mr Freeman said: 'I understand the concern felt by those who believe their children may have been affected by the use of Primodos.

'We must always look closely when such concerns are raised and that is why I asked the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to conduct a clinical review of the historic data on this issue.'

Mrs Williams took two pills of Amenorone Forte in 1965.

She said: 'We had all sorts of difficulties with Helen growing up, but we had to try to lead as happy a life as possible.

She said she had two other children who were fit and healthy when she had not taken the pills.

'Doctors told me they were perfectly safe,' Mrs Williams said.

Helen now receives supported living in Essex.

For more information on the campaign visit www.hormonepregnancytests.org.uk/

Did you take hormone pregnancy test pills? Contact our health correspondent by emailing nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk