The number of teenage pregancies increased in Oxfordshire last year, according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

In 2006, the pregnancy rate per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17 was 320 or 27.5 per cent.

In 2007, the total rose to 350, 29.6 per cent, but the overall trend since 1998 shows the number of teenage pregnancies has fallen, and there has been a reduction of 5.6 per cent since 1998.

The Government has pledged to halve teenage pregnancy rates among girls under 18 by 2010, but is expected to miss the target.

Gill Francis, chairman of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group, said the Government’s strategy to drive down teenage pregnancies was working in areas where it was fully implemented.

She said measures such as working with young people, sex education and encouraging parents to talk to their children all had an effect.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo and young people's minister Beverley Hughes today announced an extra £20.5m to help young people get better access to contraception and support for teenagers.