WE live in an age in which underage pregnancies are all too common.

It is sad enough that a 14-year-old girl - a mere child herself - should fall pregnant.

But when she is so badly let down by the adults responsible for her care, it is distressing in the extreme.

Of course, it has to be acknowledged that human error occurs in all walks of life. But the misjudgement which led to a schoolgirl being told to take home her 11-week-old foetus defies belief.

Children are urged to be sensible to avoid unwanted pregnancies, and yet there was a serious lack of common sense revealed at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

The County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust has offered the family a full apology, acknowledging that the case should have been handled with greater sensitivity.

New guidelines have also been promised to avoid a repetition of such a shocking incident.

Let us hope that they lead to tighter procedures. This is not the first time the Trust has had to issue an apology and issue new guidelines following a tragedy involving an unborn child.

And Bishop Auckland's new £67m hospital cannot afford any more failures of this magnitude.

Walking tall

TODAY we publish a 16-page souvenir of the Great North Walk, now firmly re-established as an event to be proud of.

Congratulations to the thousands of walkers who took part in such good spirits, raising money for a long list of charities.

And praise is also due to the organisers - principally Wear Valley District Council - who have resurrected the event and made it such a showcase for a beautiful part of the North-East.