WORKERS striving to reduce teenage pregnancies today said their strategy was working after conception rates fell across East Lancashire.

Health and council chiefs in Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale revealed that better advice and support for young women have helped triggered the decrease.

East Lancashire has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the country, with social deprivation, low wages and a tradition of having babies early following on from the close-knit mill and mining communities.

But in Burnley, the rate of teenage conceptions has fallen from 74.1 per 1,000 young women in 1998, to 58.4 in 2001.

In Hyndburn, the figures show a reduction in teenage conceptions from 67.1 to 62.4 per 1,000; while the figures for Pendle show a cut from 58.8 to 50.9.

Teenage conceptions in Rossendale have fallen from 50.7 to 50.2 per 1,000.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the figures show 45.8 per 1,000 population teenage pregnancies in the under 18 age group during 2001, compared to 55 per 1,000 the previous year.

Countywide, the rate of conceptions in 15-17 year olds has fallen from 48.5 per 1,000 in 1998 to 41.1 in 2001.

Nationally, teenage conceptions have fallen from 47.6 per 1,000 in England and Wales to 42.5.

Lancashire's Teenage Pregnancy Partnership's county co-ordinator Wendy Stone said the partnership set up in 2001 to halve teenage conceptions by the year 2010 was bearing fruit.

She said: "It works with the county's primary care trusts, as well as professionals in education and social services, the youth and community service, county and borough councils, and the housing and voluntary sectors to develop initiatives that aim to reduce teenage conceptions and offer support for teenage parents."

Coun Sue Reid, who co-ordinates Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council teenage pregnancy strategy, said: "We will not be complacent. There is still a long way to go and we have detailed plans for taking forward our strategy in the coming year."

Pauline Walsh, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust said: "We are working hard with our partners in social services and the voluntary sector to help young people make informed choices about sex and relationships and effective parenting."

During the coming year some of the initiatives to help reduce teenage pregnancies include a Brook Advisory Service education and outreach project and the development of sex and relationship education in schools.

An advertising campaign is also underway to inform young people about advisory services and virtual baby courses are being provided to raise awareness about the responsibilities that parenthood brings.

Schemes to support young parents includes helping them cope with parenthood.