THE WOMAN who is masterminding the Government's drive to reduce teen pregnancies is in the region this week. Cathy Hamlyn, head of the national Teenage Pregnancy Unit, is visiting Teesside, which has some of the highest teen pregnancy rates in England on Thursday.

Her busy schedule will involve meeting workers from five different projects set up by the Teesside Health Action Zone.

During the day she will meet health workers at the "One Stop Blob Shop" contraceptive advice centre in Stockton and talk to nurses who have been using computerised baby dolls in Middlesbrough.

The life-like dummies are used to educate young people about the realities of being a parent.

Her day begins with a visit to Hartlepool where she will see the Reach For Success basketball project which uses the sport as a way of raising the self-esteem of young men.

She will also meet local teenagers who are being trained to work with other youngsters.

Next, Cathy will go to the Corner House in Stockton to look at two projects.

The "One Stop Blob Shop" aims to educate young people about safe sex and provides information and access to contraception.

She will also meet staff who are working on a Durham University project which is using young people to find out what services are available on Teesside for young people.

At Skelton Youth Club Ms Hamlyn will meet the leaders of the ARC project which provides advice, support and counselling for young people.

Finally, the teenage pregnancy supremo will meet school nurses and their robot dolls.

Val Abbas, health promotion advisor at Tees Health Authority, said: "We are delighted that Cathy has asked to see the range of projects that are being run locally. A lot of hard work and effort goes into all the projects."