A SEXUAL health charity has called on the new government to reaffirm a commitment to reducing teenage pregnancies after East Lancashire saw mixed results in the latest conception figures.

Annual rates for young women conceiving in Blackburn with Darwen, rose from 23.6 per 1,000 to 25.7, from 2015 to 2016.

But the figure for Lancashire, covering Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, dipped from 27.2 to 25.2 over the same period.

Some authorities had reduced public health spending, according to the Advisory Group on Contraception, with neighbouring Bolton dropping by 15 per cent and St Helens by 25 per cent.

Lancashire had actually five per cent more in public health and figures were unavailable for Blackburn with Darwen.

Natika Halil, chief executive of sexual health charity FPA ,formerly the Family Planning Association, said the UK still had one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe, despite continuing reductions nationally.

The charity believes this may be a delayed response to a successful 2000-2010 teenage pregnancy strategy

But she added: “In contrast, recent dramatic cuts to public health budgets, £800 million over six years in the UK, could be laying the groundwork for future increases in teenage pregnancy rates.

“We are calling on all political parties to support investment, to make sure we build on the incredible work done so far, and don’t instead see teenage pregnancy rates slip even further away from other European countries.

“Not all teenage pregnancies are unplanned or unwanted, but young people who become parents under 18 have a higher risk of poorer health, education, economic and social outcomes. All of which can not only cause individuals to struggle, but ultimately cost the country money.”

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed last December how teenage pregnancy rates had dropped by two-thirds, between 1998 and 2014

Sue Capstick, service line manager for the contraception and sexual health service at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There is a good uptake in long-acting reversible contraception in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, and our service’s single point of access number, website, clinic times and locations help ensure easy access.”