Rebecca GoughNorfolk has renewed its commitment to reduce teenage pregnancy as new figures show conception rates in the county have dropped to their lowest level in nine years.Rebecca Gough

Norfolk has renewed its commitment to reduce teenage pregnancy as new figures show conception rates in the county have dropped to their lowest level in nine years.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics show the county's teenage pregnancy levels fell by 15.2pc between 2007 and 2008, from 40.4 conceptions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 17, to 34.2 per 1,000.

The figures mean nearly 100 fewer young women in Norfolk became pregnant in 2008 than in the previous year - a drop from 591 to 500. This is the lowest since the national teenage pregnancy strategy was launched in 1999.

Norfolk County Council, NHS Norfolk and NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, together with partners in the voluntary sector, developed a teen pregnancy strategy of its own, aimed at targeting specific groups of young people and increasing and improving sex and relationships education as well as access to health service in schools in priority areas.

Another example was the C-Card scheme which offers young people a card once they have demonstrated they know how to use condoms effectively. This can then be presented to a variety of locations across Norfolk to obtain condoms and further sexual health information.

A number of pharmacies across Norwich also offer emergency hormonal contraception as part on an ongoing pilot which will be rolled out to other areas in Norfolk from the next financial year.

Norfolk's teenage pregnancy coordinator Dr Mark Osborn, said: 'Our priority has been to focus on specific groups, targeting the most vulnerable to ensure that they have access to strong support and advice.'

Across the region, Suffolk figures showed 423 teenage girls between 15 and 17 pregnant in 2007, which fell to 407 in 2008. And since 1998 there was an 18.9pc drop in pregnancy rates in under 18s.

Nationally, the teenage pregnancy rate has also fallen from 41.7 per 1,000 in 2007, to 40.4 per 1,000 in 2008 - a 3.3pc drop.

The East of England had the lowest rate in the country, with 31.4 per 1,000 young women getting pregnant.

Children's minister Dawn Primarolo said: 'Teenage pregnancy is no longer a rising problem. It is important that we recognise the progress made by many areas in driving down teenage pregnancy rates.'

Director of children's services for Norfolk County Council, Lisa Christensen, said: 'Today's news is fantastic for Norfolk and its young men and women but there is still a lot of work to be done and we need everyone to remain committed to tackling teenage pregnancy.

'We need to do more to help young people and their parents to be aware of the options available; to make confident plans for their futures; to have high aspirations and to make positive choices to achieve those aspirations.'