Ribble Valley teen pregnancy rates among lowest in UK

The news comes after Department of Health statistics revealed that more than 20 girls between 13 and 15 become pregnant every day in the UK.

However in the Ribble Valley, there were just 2.8 pregnancies per 1,000 girls between 13 and 15 in 2005 - the seventh lowest rate in the country.

The figures showed a bigger problem throughout the rest of East Lancashire, though, with 11.4 pregnancies per 1,000 under-age girls in Hyndburn.

Pendle was the next worst in the borough, with 9.7 per 1,000, followed by Burnley at 8.7, Blackburn with Darwen at 8.5, and Rossendale at 8.0.

The average for the whole of Lancashire was 7.5 conceptions per 1,000 girls.

More than half of pregnancies in under-16s throughout East Lancashire end in abortion.

But Elaine Michel, sexual health boss for East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, said rates of teenage pregnancy had dropped by around 20 per cent since 1998.

She said: "Teenage pregnancy is very closely linked to deprivation, so we have historically always had lower rates in the Ribble Valley, which is more affluent, than anywhere else.

"It's a complex picture in terms of why young girls do become pregnant - in some areas it is more socially acceptable to be a teenage mum, but in others teenagers are more likely to use contraception and be better informed.

"We had high teenage conception rates throughout East Lancashire and they are still above average everywhere except the Ribble Valley, but we have done a lot of work to reduce them.

"The Brook Advisory Centres in Burnley and Blackburn do a great job, and we have contraception and advice available at clinics and pharmacies throughout the area.

"We have really upped our game, but the important thing now is to keep the message out there and make sure young people know where to get the help and advice they need."

The lowest conception rate in the country was in Chiltern, Buckinghamshire (1.1 per 1,000) and worst in the UK was in Lambeth (19.5).