A south Essex MP has accused the Government of "bottling out" over the use of hybrid embryos made from human and animal cells for medical research.

Stem cell research, using embryos which are 99.5 per cent human, with a small animal component, is likely to be stopped by ministers after public consultation showing a majority against it.

But scientists researching degenerative genetic illnesses, such as motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer's, say the move - outlined in a new White Paper - will be a huge setback in the search for cures.

Bob Spink, Tory MP for Castle Point and a member of the Parliamentary Science Committee, strongly favours the use of hybrid embryos.

He said: "This is about creating solutions for some of the nastiest diseases which affect people across the world.

"We need to let the scientists go ahead with this research, but the Government is bottling out."

Scientists had hoped hybrids could be used to overcome a shortage of human eggs for research.

Dr Spink said a number of medical breakthroughs which had transformed people's lives once seemed abhorrent.

He said: "There was public revulsion against putting live viruses into people for vaccination. People also balked at taking organs from the dead for transplantation because they didn't understand the benefits."

Around 500 people replied to the consultation, leading many to argue the response was unrepresentative.

Dr Spink said: "This is not real public engagement. These are pressure groups from fundamentalist organisations opposed to such research.

"I was also opposed to it when I first heard about it, but now I understand why it is done, what the controls are and what the end product is. They are not creating monsters."