TEENAGE pregnancy rates in Sandwell are continuing to fall year by year, latest figures reveal.

There were 148 fewer teenage pregnancies in the borough in 2012 than there were 15 years ago.

Figures from the Teenage Pregnancy Unit at the Department for Education show the rate per 1,000 females aged 15-17 has dropped from 69.1 to 38.5 from 1998 to last year.

There were 231 teenage pregnancies across Sandwell in 2013, compared to 280 in 2011, and 379 in 1998.

Sandwell Council today welcomed the provisional figures as a major achievement - but warned that there was still work to do.

John Middleton, director of public health, said: “It is great news that the levels continue to fall and it is good that young people are taking responsibility for their lives and delaying pregnancy.

“The improved figures are also the result of good teamwork, with schools, school nurses, youth workers, targeted youth support staff, contraception and sexual health services working for the good of young people and raising their aspirations to delay starting their family until successfully completing their education.

“It is also important to support those teenagers who do become pregnant and we have services such as midwives for teenagers, family nurse partnership and a children’s centre for young parents.”