The Governor of California has signed a law which will effectively prevent groups from attempting to ban circumcision.

Jerry Brown said on Sunday that he had signed the bill making it illegal for local authorities to ban the practice.

The change means that groups such as the activists in San Francisco, who wanted the city authority to make circumcision of males under the age of 18 punishable with a fine or even a prison sentence, will find it almost impossible to proceed with their campaigns.

After months of uncertainty, in July a judge removed the San Francisco measure from a November vote on the basis it would infringe on religious freedom.