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Two Roman Catholic midwives who lost a legal battle to avoid taking part in abortion procedures have begun an appeal at the Court of Session.

Mary Doogan, 58, and Concepta Wood, 52, said being forced to supervise Glasgow health board staff taking part in abortions violated their human rights.

But a judge ruled the midwives were not directly involved in terminations.

Their appeal before three judges in Edinburgh heard each side could pursue the matter to the UK Supreme Court.

Ms Doogan, from Garrowhill in Glasgow, and Mrs Wood, from Clarkston in East Renfrewshire, both object on religious grounds to participating in abortions and took their employer, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to court.

The midwifery sisters have a right of conscientious objection - recognised in the 1967 Abortion Act - and challenged whether the health board was entitled to require them to delegate, supervise and support staff in the work.

Following a judicial review in February, judge Lady Smith ruled against the women at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

She said they were protected from any direct involvement with the procedure to which they object.

Ms Doogan and Mrs Wood, who worked as labour ward co-ordinators at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, have now begun their appeal against Lady Smith's ruling.

Their counsel Gerry Moynihan QC told the court that the case may go to the Supreme Court from either side.

Mr Moynihan told Lord Mackay, sitting with Lady Dorrian and Lord McEwan, that in so far as the women were part of a team their right to conscientious objection extended to the whole of their duties, save for the provision that there was an obligation to participate in life-saving measures.

He said neither woman claimed any conscientious objection to the involvement in treatment that was necessary to save the life of the mother.

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?" 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them." 20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God he gave them families.