Teenage pregnancies have fallen by seven per cent in Shropshire – figures reveal today.

Conceptions among under-18s went down from 372 in 2006 to 345 in 2007, according to the latest data.

However, there has been an increase in abortions with almost half choosing to end their pregnancies. The figures have been released by the Office for National Statistics.

They show conceptions were down from 187 to 162 in Telford & Wrekin, where the number that led to a termination rose from 37 per cent to 39.

Across the rest of the county, teen pregnancies fell from 185 to 183, with the proportion of abortions rising from 52 per cent to 56.

Nationally, the number rose by three per cent across England and Wales from 41,768 to 42, 918.

There has been a significant fall in the proportion of conceptions by teenagers.

But the new figures show the pregnancy rate among under-18s has increased for the first time since 2002 – from 40.9 per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17 in 2006 to 41.9 in 2007.

The Government has promised to halve teenage pregnancy rates among girls under 18 by next year, but is now expected to miss that target.

It said the increases in pregnancies and abortions in some areas suggested young people were not accessing effective contraception and may be engaging in more risky behaviour – pointing to a need for better advice and information about sex and relationships both from parents and in schools.

Announcing a £20.5 million package to promote the use of contraception, raise awareness of the risks of unprotected sex and provide better support for teenagers, Children’s minister Beverley Hughes admitted the statistics were “disappointing”.

But added: “Reducing teenage pregnancy requires everyone to play their part – parents, health, local authorities and schools. Where progress has slowed, efforts must be redoubled and we will be focusing our challenge on areas with high and increasing rates.”

Gill Frances, chairwoman of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group, said: “Today’s figures show that all local areas have to stop the excuses and get on with providing contraceptive services and sex and relationship education for all young people, including the under-16s.”

By Sunita Patel