TEENAGE pregnancy in Weymouth and Portland is rocketing by nearly twice the county average.

The number of conceptions in 15-17-year-olds rose sharply by 10.75 per cent from 158 in 1998-2000 to 175 in 2001-2003.

Office for National Statistics figures out today reveal that the number of pregnancies among 15s-17s across the county had risen from 580 to 612 in the same period (up 5.5 per cent), with Weymouth and Portland accounting for over half of the increase. In West Dorset, there were six more such pregnancies, up to 132 from 126 (a rise of 4.7 per cent).

The percentage 15-17-year-olds falling pregnant in Weymouth and Portland was 5.01 per cent - two per cent higher than the county average and more than twice the rate for some county areas including West Dorset where it was only 2.47 per cent.

The soaring pregnancy rate is increasing the strain on key services. Dorset South MP Jim Knight said the local rises in teen pregnancies against the trend of a 1.8 per cent fall nationally was "of great concern to everyone".

He added: "Teenage pregnancy does create all sorts of problems because both mothers and children have to be cared for.

"We must not just tackle teenage pregnancy but prevent it occurring in the first place which is a key role for local NHS services and the local education authority."

Weymouth and Portland housing and social inclusion spokesman Coun Mike Goodman said: "These pregnancy figures are concerning.

"Speaking as an individual, we have got to find a way of informing young people of the consequences of their actions.

"It is no good saying that the situation is going to get better if such people are given contraception or advice on how to look after a baby. The bottom line is that this approach is not working.

"We have to impress on these teenagers what a long term and, in many cases, devastating effect it will have on their futures.

"There is a feeling in many people's minds that if you explain everything it will make everything better and I think that view needs to be challenged.

"We need to go back and instil in young people that some things are intrinsically dangerous and sexual activity outside a stable and long term relationship is equally dangerous."

Management committee chairman Coun Brian Ellis said teenage pregnancy was a burden on authorities and groups such as the council and the rise when viewed against a fall nationally was disturbing.

He added: "There is a lot to be done on education and values to get greater understanding of the issues across to teenagers."