MIDDLESBROUGH is still among the worst areas in the country for teen pregnancy rates - but levels have fallen to their lowest ever.
Office for National Statistics figures showed that the town was the seventh worst nationwide for teenage pregnancies, with 103 under-18s expecting babies in the town in 2013.
But the rate of teenage pregnancies has fallen across Teesside, and in Middlesbrough there has been a 22 per cent reduction since 2012. This means the town has the lowest level of expectant teens since records began.
Since 2010 alone, the rate of pregnant mothers under 18 is down 37 per cent, and under-16s is down by 57 per cent.
A report to Middlesbrough Council's full council said the reductions "link strongly with reductions in young people's use of alcohol and drugs and will help produce savings on local authority and other agency budgets".
In 2012 Middlesbrough had the highest teen pregnancy rate in England and Wales.
Rates fell by six per cent in Redcar and Cleveland and 16 per cent in Stockton.
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