Oxfordshire is falling behind the rest of the country in tackling teenage pregnancy, figures have revealed.

Health workers, however, remain hopeful that new initiatives, including better sexual education and widespread morning after pills to girls under 18, will combat the rise.

The latest Government figures reveal that between 1998 and 2004 there was an increase in teenage pregnancy in Oxfordshire, against the national trend of a 11 per cent reduction.

In 1998 3.1 per cent of girls aged between 15 and 17 in the county became pregnant, while in 2004 the rate rose to 3.4 per cent.

Overall, however, Oxfordshire's teenage pregnancy rate is below the national average of 4.2 per cent for the same age group.

Government ministers have called for a revised teen pregnancy strategy in areas such as Oxfordshire struggling to improve the records.

But Chris Etheridge, Oxfordshire's teenage pregnancy coordinator, said improvements had already been put in place and there had been a fall in teenage pregnancy between 2003 and 2004.

Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust and the county council are working to expand the accessibility of free morning-after pills, working with vulnerable groups and schools on sexual health and relationship education, compiling teenage feedback and making young people more aware of different types of contraception.

There are currently 45 pharmacies in the county which supply the morning after pill to teenagers.

Mrs Etheridge said: "I'm very optimistic with everything we have put into place that we will continue with a downward trend."

A new Government strategy to tackle areas with poor records is aimed at tackling the underlying causes of under-18 conception, including advice to parents to talk to their children more about sexual relationships.

Social Exclusion Minister Pat McFadden said: "The message for young people should be one of prevention, but they should be made aware of access to contraception if there is a risk of teen pregnancy."

Lucy Harbour, sexual health adviser at the Abingdon Bridge project for young people, said: "It's essential that young people are aware of local services. Here at The Bridge we are able to provide young people with up-to-date information about where they can go for a full sexual health screen and how they can obtain emergency contraception.

"In order to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy and STIs among young people, sexual health promotion needs to be delivered in a way that is relevant to them.

"During this academic year, I will be running sexual health awareness workshops every week at Abingdon College. I hope they will provide young people with the information that they need in a way that is acceptable to them and may consequently affect their behaviour in a positive way."