Teenage pregnancy rates across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have fallen, setting new regional records.

A range of initiatives from the primary care trusts and two main councils have helped drive down the figures.

The Department of Health has highlighted the Telford & Wrekin PCT and borough council as being among the top performers across the country with an impressive 23.9 per cent reduction.

This is the best in the West Midlands. Within the borough the rate of teenage pregnancies is 48.9 in every 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17, compared with 54.7 last year and 64.2 when the rates were first reported in 1998.

Within the Shropshire County Council area the number has dropped from 32.6 to 31.7 which is considerably below the national rate of 41.7.

Initiatives in place out to ensure young people are given the best access to support and advice include:

• Providing education on relationships and sexual health so young people are better equipped to make healthy and informed choices when they do become sexually active.

• Working with schools to provide health drop-in services such as sexual health consultations, emergency contraception, pregnancy tests and chlamydia screening.

• A condom distribution scheme.

• Sexual health roadshows.

Claire Old, Telford & Wrekin PCT’s director of commissioning and service improvement, said: “The figures show that Telford & Wrekin is on the right track with the work being done to prevent teenage pregnancy and we are of course delighted with the results.”

She added: “Reducing teenage pregnancies is a long and complex process and we will not be resting on our laurels.”

Ann Hartley, Shropshire County Council cabinet member for children’s services said: “A decrease in teenage conception rate is very good news.”

The figures were revealed yesterday as the Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo, and the Young People’s Minister Beverley Hughes, announced that an extra £20.5 million is to be spent on helping young people get better access to contraception, support for teenagers and to raise the awareness of the risks of unprotected sex.

By Dave Morris