Trump backtracks on 'abortion punishment' comments

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has backtracked on comments he made about punishing women for having abortions.

Trump told TV network MSNBC that women who end pregnancies should face some sort of punishment if the United States made the procedure illegal.

In a clip of the interview that aired on Wednesday, Trump said even if abortions are banned, some women would still find a way to access the procedure.

Video report by ITV News' correspondent Juliet Bremner

Trump's views on abortion have been the subject of contention among Republicans who are generally staunchly in favour of banning abortions.

In the past, Trump has said he believes in the pro-choice argument but since running for the Republican nomination for President he appears to have changed his position.

In a statement issued after the criticism surrounding his comments, Trump tried to reel back on his view saying: "This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination."

But as the furore continued, Trump was forced to issue another statement in which he said "doctors and any other person" performing the abortion would be legally responsible, but not the woman who "is a victim".

Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called Trump's initial comments "horrific and telling."

Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 after a Supreme Court ruling which can only be overturned by the high court, not the President.

ITV News asked women in Washington what they thought about Trump's comments - here's what they said.