TEENAGE pregnancies rose in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire, new figures have revealed.

The latest figures show that, in North Yorkshire, the number of teenagers under 18 falling pregnant rose from 300 in 2006 to 343 the following year – an increase of about 14 per cent.

In 2007, there were more teenage pregnancies in the county than in any of the preceding three years, with 319 in 2005 and 290 in 2004.

In York, the number went up from 126 in 2006, to 137 the following year; a rise of more than 8.5 per cent. The figure for 2005 was also 137, having risen from 113 the previous year.

In the East Riding of Yorkshire, the number steadily increased between 2004, when it was 190, and 2007, when it stood at 205.

York city councillor Carol Runciman, the authority’s executive member for children and young people’s services, said the council had put in place a number of initiatives to tackle teenage pregnancy.

She said the University of York had undertaken research looking at why teenagers became pregnant, and the authority would use the results to shape its policies.

“One of the local initiatives now in place is a teenage pregnancy board, which includes NHS North Yorkshire and York, to monitor and plan for our teenage pregnancy strategy. “Also, our teenage pregnancy co-ordinator works with newly-appointed sexual health advisers in the Connexions service who have direct contact with young people.

“Both young men and young women now receive sex and relationship education to improve their sense of responsibility and self-esteem.” She said: “It is heartening to know that not all the young women interviewed found pregnancy a negative experience. For some, they made it into something positive in their lives.”

In York in 2007, there were 42.4 conceptions per 1,000 women aged 15-17, compared with 41.9 in England and Wales.