Free morning after pills will be dished out to teenage girls at pharmacies across Oxford to target spiralling rates of unwanted pregnancies.

A pilot scheme was launched in May last year in Blackbird Leys, Cowley and Barton giving teenagers free access to the

pill.

Now Oxford City Primary Care Trust is expanding the scheme to more than 20 pharmacies across the city and to three new family planning clinics.

Figures for unwanted pregnancies reveal the city has the highest number of teenage conceptions in the county -- with some areas in the top 20 per cent in England.

Claire Dodwell, sexual health development manager at Oxford City PCT, said: "We are planning to do this by the end of the year, hopefully from November to December. We've still got lots of pharmacists to train and it's our aim to introduce a contraceptive training programme by then.

"We aim to introduce it (free morning after pills) to 24 pharmacies and any extra ones who want it. Most we have spoken to are responding they want to do it.

"A lot of PCT's around the country don't provide free contraceptives and we are very lucky here."

The trial at Barton Pharmacy in Underhill Circus, Lloyds Pharmacy in Blackbird Leys and Superdrug, Templars Square in Cowley sparked protests from pro-life groups when it was announced.

Teenage pregnancies in Oxfordshire rose by 11 per cent between 1998 and 2003 and the PCT has admitted it is unlikely it reach its target of a 15 per cent decrease in figures for 2004, to be released later this year.

Oxford has the highest under-18 pregnancy rate in the county with a 12.6 per cent rise between 1999 and 2002.

Most recent figures available dating back three years showed teenage pregnancies in areas of Blackbird Leys, Littlemore, Cowley, Barton, St Mary's and Jericho came in the top 20 per cent in England,

Oxford City PCT plans for free morning after pills at every pharmacy were welcomed by a meeting of the the health overview and scrutiny sub-committee on Thursday.

City councillor Suzanna Pressel praised the move adding: "I know Blackbird Leys has a particular problem with unplanned pregnancies."

Several schools in Oxford, including Peers Technology College in Littlemore, also have regular sexual health and advice clinics for students run by the PCT.