EAST Hampshire's teenage pregnancy rate is on the rise.

The district is bucking the national trend by recording a 3.1 per cent increase in teenage pregnancy figures, against significant improvement elsewhere in the country.

According to Office of National Statistics records, just released for a three-year period from 2008-10, and compared to figures for 1998-2000, in most areas the rate of conception in women aged 15 to 17 is declining.

The figure for England and Wales shows a big reduction of 15.9 per cent, while Hampshire shows an 11.3 per cent fall.

But, while the majority of districts within the county have followed the national pattern, East Hampshire shows an upward turn of 3.1 per cent.

For full story, see this week's Liphook Herald.