HIT squads aimed at tackling East Lancashire's chronically high numbers of teenage pregnancies are to be set up across East Lancashire.

The area has the second highest figures for under-18s pregnancies in the region -- 565 in 1999, the most recent figures available. Only Wigan and Bolton Health Authority has higher figures, with 600 under-18s getting pregnant in the same year.

The figures have dropped compared to the year before, when there were 632 pregnancies.

But the Government has set a target for local authorities to cut the number of teenage conceptions by 15 per cent by 2004 and by 50 per cent by 2010.

East Lancashire Health Authority has set up a partnership board, as part of countywide 10-year strategy. It was given £200,000 for 2001-02 to tackle the problem and will work closely with local councils.

Other specialist teenage pregnancy squads are being set up in Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale and Hyndburn to tackle specific problems.

Primary care groups for the area have already started work on ways to cut numbers through education programmes with schools, sexual health promotion, drop-in centres for young people and young mothers' support groups.

Alayne Robin, regional co-ordinator for sexual health and young people for the north west, said: "We are very encouraged. We believe the figures for 2000 will show a greater drop, as the effects of the regeneration and health promotion work kick in.

"East Lancashire has a strong partnership group set-up. We are having to pull together a countywide strategy, but there are very different issues in certain areas, so we are having to put together partnership boards.

"We are using all agencies. We are also looking at the social exclusion of teenage girls and their babies. It is much wider than just health."

John Doyle, teenage pregnancy co-ordinator for ELHA, said: "Our rates in East Lancashire have been high for decades -- higher than the national average.

"Once the PCTs are fully formed in this area we will be able to set up groups for teenage pregnancies. As a health authority we can oversee them."