STRATEGY for tackling teen pregnancies has been produced following shocking figures released last March which revealed that Northwich and Winsford were 'hotspots'.

The Witton North area of Northwich had more than double the national average of girls aged 15 to 17 becoming pregnant while the Over area in Winsford also had more than double the average.

South Cheshire Health Authority together with Cheshire County Council drew up an action plan to tackle the problem.

Now an inter-agency steering group with representatives from health, education, community and youth and social services has produced the draft document 'A 10 Year Teenage Pregnancy Strategy for Cheshire'.

This draft document will be presented to various agencies for consultation with a final document to be approved in March.

The target is to achieve a reduction of at least 50 per cent in the under-18 conception rate by 2010, and the vision is that in 10 years time young people and young parents in Cheshire will have equality of access to sexual health advice, social support services and educational opportunities.

Part of the strategy will see the appointment in February of a new teenage pregnancy project worker who will assist Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator Jacquie Smith.

He or she will set up a system which will provide the 'best practice.'

The strategy recognises that a many faceted- multi agency approach is needed to achieve a reduction in unwanted pregnancies.

There are many reasons for an unwanted pregnancy and they can range from carelessness or being ill-informed to being the outcome of an abusive relationship.

There are wide variations in the size of the problem across the county. In recognition of the diversity the following goals are being sought:

To aim for a baseline level of services throughout the county, with additional or specific provision in areas where this is appropriate.

To take a variety of approaches to meeting needs and providing services.

To ensure that information about sexual health services and contraceptive services, including emergency contraception, is available and accessible to all young people.

To build on and learn from best practice and 'what works'

To encourage diversity and creativity in piloting new approaches.

To ensure that young people remain in their usual provider of education, continue to have access to full-time education and return to it, with child care support as necessary.

That all young people be helped to be aware of, and able to access, educational and employment opportunities.

A vital part of the draft plan is sex and relationship education, better contraception, advice and information services and better support for teenage parents.

It is hoped that in the next 10 years young people, their parents and local communities will have developed a greater understanding of the need for sex and relationship education to be a community responsibility

It also hoped that schools and the Cheshire Youth Service will have staff who feel better equipped to deal with issues relating to sexuality, sexual health and sexual relationships.

County councillor cabinet member Sue Proctor said that consultation on the document had already begun.

"The government has told us to produce a strategy to tackle unwanted pregnancies and also to avoid social exclusion," she said.

"There has been consultation and I would hope to have it in place by April."