THE number of pregnancies among under-18s in the Malvern Hills is the lowest in Worcestershire and almost half the national average.

Teenage pregnancy is one of two key issues given special attention in the newly published annual report of the Director of Public Health in Worcestershire, Dr Brian McCloskey.

The UK has the highest rate of teenage conceptions in Western Europe, with 90,000 in England in 1997 the most recent measure. The national average is 44 per 1,000 girls aged between 15 and 17 and the West Midlands average is 50.

In the Malvern Hills the figure is 24 with only Bromsgrove, with 28, recording another figure in the 20s. The highest rate is in Worcester, with 57, and Redditch, 48.

Dr McCloskey said issues like social deprivation played their part in the rate and "it's a problem seen more in the big urban centres".

But he said work continued to try and cut teenage pregnancies, through initiatives like Time 4U clinics, pioneered at Hanley Castle High School, and providing a forum for advice and discussion.

"It is sometimes easier to start with the high numbers but we would want to see numbers reduce in Malvern as well," said Dr McCloskey.

Although Malvern Hills has a low number of teenage pregnancies, the number that end in abortion is 44 per cent, four per cent higher than the national average and three per cent higher than the county average.

Dr McCloskey also highlighted the issue of coronary heart disease in his report.

The highest rates are in Wychavon and Wyre Forest, with Malvern recording an average annual death rate of 192, higher than Worcester City, Bromsgrove and Redditch.