HEALTH bosses welcomed new figures showing a drop in teenage pregnancies across Blackburn and Darwen.

The Office for National Statistics said the rate of conceptions in 15 to 17-year-olds had dropped by 18.2 per cent since 1998.

In a single year alone in Blackburn with Darwen borough, pregnancies fell from 52.1 per 1,000 young women in 2004 to 47.6 per 1000 in 2005.

Blackburn with Darwen Young People's Sexual Health Partnership, comprised of the Primary Care Trust, the council and a wide range of health and voluntary groups, welcomed the news.

The partnership carries out projects to reduce pregnancies in under-18s and to improve sexual health.

Recent initiatives have included the Shield, a sex and relationships training programme for professionals, and the Wrapped condom distribution scheme.

Claire Jackson, young person's sexual health strategy co-ordinator, said, "This is really good news - we have developed lots of opportunities for young people to access good quality information and support around their sexual health which allows them to make positive choices about themselves.

"We look forward to building on our success by ensuring key and consistent messages continue to be given to young people."

A number of drop-in clinics have been set up to reduce teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among young people across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, where the figures are higher than the national average.

Julia Hogan, teenage information nurse for East Lancashire PCT said: "The aim is to make these clinics acceptable and available to young people. They are called Step-in because no appointments have to be made.

Mike Leaf, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, said: "We are delighted the figures reflect the continued high-level commitment and investment given by all members of the Young People's Sexual Health Partnership."