THE number of women having abortions has risen in East Lancashire — with a ‘worrying’ number of young girls undergoing the procedure.

Fourteen abortions were undertaken by girls aged 14 and younger last year across the area.

Coun Ron O’Keeffe, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s health watchdog, said abortion was “a major problem in the borough”, especially in deprived areas.

He said: “It’s a major concern that so many young girls are becoming pregnant. The council is trying to overcome this and bring the numbers down by working hard with schools.

“Abortions are the last thing that girls should go through.”

Department of Health data showed that there were 1,231 abortions in 2010 in NHS East Lancashire’s five boroughs — Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale — compared to 1,169 the year before.

In Blackburn with Darwen women underwent 516 abortions, compared to 484 in 2009.

Four abortions were undertaken by girls aged 14 and younger last year.

There were 10 by 15-year-olds, 10 by 16-year-olds and 24 by 17-year-olds.

Statistics for NHS East Lancashire showed that there was a slight reduction in abortions undertaken by children, with a fall from 163 in 2009 to 156 in 2010.

It recorded 10 abortions undertaken by girls aged 14 and younger, 25 by 15-year-olds, 51 by 16-year-olds and 70 by 17-year-olds last year.

Coun Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen’s executive member for children’s services, said part of Blackburn’s new Barbara Castle Way Health Centre would be dedicated to young people.

She said: “There is also a lot being done in schools. There are a lot of issues and we teach young people about safe sex and relationships.”

Kelly Taylor, NHS East Lancashire’s sexual health commissioning manager, said it was promoting different contraceptive methods with colleges.

She said: “In times of financial and social hardship you would expect an increase in risk taking behaviour and of course it is impossible to totally prevent unwanted pregnancies.

“LARC methods are more cost effective at one year of use than other methods of contraception. These include the intrauterine device contraceptive implant and contraceptive injection.

“These are ideal for young people and those with chaotic lifestyles as these methods take away the need to remember contraception.”

She said the number of women accessing LARC from GP surgeries and sexual health services including Brook had increased from 12,147 in 2007/08 to 15,086 in 2010/11.