A LEADING courier service has teamed up with the controversial Man Not Included website to help women across Basingstoke conceive in a more unconventional way.

CitySprint is the leading distribution partner for the Man Not Included service, designed to help single and lesbian couples find a sperm donor, thus enabling them to conceive.

CitySprint has a major service centre based in Wade Road, Basingstoke, which places it in a prime site to support this service.

Nigel Rollinson, controller at the Basing-stoke depot, said: "We haven't had any requests so far but I've no doubt we will. We have no idea how popular this may become."

Those wishing to donate sperm are provided with a special flask container. These are dispatched to private addresses across the UK by CitySprint. CitySprint then collect the individual flasks at pre-scheduled times. Donors are paid £40 per donation.

The flasks are then delivered to the recipients who pay £1,285 for professional counselling, donor testing and advice on possible conception.

Sarah Roberts, spokeswoman for CitySprint, is confident the service will be a success when more people are aware of what's on offer. She said: "The requests for this service have predominantly come from London so far, but that's a lot to do with it being in its infancy rather than Basingstoke people not being interested at all.

"We've been given this contract because we have a fast and secure service, so, if people in Basingstoke want to get involved, they will receive the best service possible."