Hartlepool is the abortion capital of the North-East after a 12.5 per cent rise in terminations last year.
There were 314 abortions in 2004, compared to 279 the previous year, giving the town an abortion rate of 18 per 1,000 women.
It put Hartlepool ahead of Newcastle, Sunderland and North Tyneside, all of which had a rate of 16 per 1,000 women, according to the department of health figures.
The town also had the highest rate for under 18s, at 27 per 1,000. The next highest in the region was Easington (25), followed by Middlesbrough (23).
But the highest abortion rate for any North-East age group was for 18 and 19-year-olds in Darlington - an eye-opening 48 per 1,000 women.
Women were least likely to have an abortion in Durham and Chester-le-Street (10 per 1,000), followed by Sedgefield (12 per 1,000).
Full story in The Northern Echo tomorrow.
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