ALMOST one in ten teenage girls in the West End of Morecambe fall pregnant before the age of 16, a new report has revealed.

The statistics for Alexandra ward in the resort shows a teenage pregnancy rate of 88.1 per 1,000 girls, and has been identified as a serious issue in the Morecambe Bay Health Improvement draft plan.

MP Geraldine Smith claims the worrying statistics reveal a "vicious cycle of deprivation" and says more needs to be done to stop the West End becoming a ghetto.

"A lot of what's happened in the West End is just 'managing the misery' with sticking plaster solutions.

We want to see the money going towards decent housing an job opportunities.

Sometime the girls think having a baby is a way out of poverty and will give them something to love but living in a bedsit with one, two or three children and very little money is no easy option.

We've got to break the cycle of poverty by creating decent housing and job opportunities."

There was some good news for the West End this week with £300,000 of European funding being given to an action called 'Winning back the West End.'

The plan aims to improve the economy of the area and create opportunities for local people.

And to help them get it right they want local people to join a special committee They are currently seeking 12 people from the Alexandra and Heysham North wards which are covered by the scheme to take up seats on the West End Partnership.

Meetings take place every two to three months with occasional additional meetings to deal with specific business.

The chairman, Cllr Trevor Tattersall, said: "We are all excited by the new opportunities and challenges that the Action Plan brings and look forward to better times for the West End."

He added: "This is a good opportunity for local people to have a say in improving the West End.

I would invite anyone with time and commitment to get involved and help in winning back the West End."

Anyone interested should telephone 01524 582334 and ask for a nomination form.

A map will be provided and potential applicants should check that they live within the boundary of the target area.