TEENAGE pregnancy rates in Darlington are the lowest in the North-East, according to health chiefs.

Darlington Borough Council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee heard yesterday that rates in the town were continuing to decrease.

An update on the figures had been requested following information issued to a meeting of the group in December based on statistics from 2002.

At that time, Councillor Heather Scott said she was horrified by the teenage pregnancy rates.

But Donna Thorne, of Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT), told the committee yesterday that the town has the lowest rate in the region, based on the figures from 2004 - the most recent available.

She said: "Teenage pregnancies continue to show we are making steady progress in decreasing teenage conceptions. We have exceeded targets by reducing them by ten per cent."

The number of teenage pregnancies in Darlington in 2002 and 2004 stood at 94 during both years.

But the trust explained that, because the number of teenagers in 2004 had grown, the percentage of teenage pregnancies had dropped.

Mrs Thorne, who said the rate had dropped by a quarter since 1998, added: "We feel we are making steady progress but there is no room for any complacency. There is an awful lot of work to do."

The latest figures have just been released by the Office for National Statistics.

But the trust said it is working with Darlington Memorial Hospital to produce quarterly figures and highlight any areas of concern.

Coun Scott had raised concerns at the previous meeting about the figures being so out-of-date.

She said yesterday: "I am still concerned we are only working with figures going back to 2004.

"But I am pleased we are trying to get more recent figures."

And she added: "I am pleased to hear that Darlington is one of the better performers in the North-East but it is something we need to keep a close eye on."

The committee had previously speculated that the rates in teenage pregnancy had increased in the town since the 2002 figures were compiled.