PREGNANCIES in under 18s in Dorset fell by more than 60 per cent over eight years – but a sexual health charity warns that funding cuts could stop the decline.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics for Dorset - excluding the conurbation of Bournemouth and Poole - show that in 2016, there were 80 conceptions to girls under the age of 18, compared to 2008 when there were 224 conceptions.

Even year-on-year figures showed a big dip, with a 29 per cent decrease in the number of teenage pregnancies in 2016 compared with 2015.

Public Health England says there has been “significant progress” on teenage pregnancy but added that young people in England still experience higher teen birth rates than those in western European countries.

And sexual health charity FPA has warned that although it welcomes the record low in teenage pregnancy rates, progress could be halted by threatened sexual health services cuts.

Natika H Halil, chief executive of FPA, said: “This dramatic fall in Dorset’s teenage pregnancy rates is thanks to a great deal of hard work from health and education professionals, along with the investment in services that we saw during the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy that ended in 2010.

“That’s why it’s so concerning that Dorset is facing such massive cuts to its public health budget. These cuts could mean that we see teenage pregnancy rates start to rise again in the coming years.

“It’s also important to remember that whether or not young people are sexually active, or choose to become parents, they should never face stigma or judgement. Pregnancy and parenthood can be a positive life choice for young people, and young parents deserve to get the support they need to make informed choices about their lives.”