ABORTION rates in Swindon under-18s have halved in just two decades, figures show.

It comes as Britain marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark law that legalised abortion. 

Swindon health chiefs say that the town has led the way in tackling teen pregnancies, with the conception rate among school-age girls down by almost two-thirds since 1998.

It has seen areas with historically high teen pregnancy rates, such as Walcot and Park North, have had their places stolen by other wards.

“It’s shifted over time,” said Jo Walsh, senior commissioner for public health at Swindon Borough Council

She added that public health teams were now trying to tackle teen pregnancy rates in areas like Liden and Eldene: “Our ambition is to ensure the rates continue to decrease. We’ve got really strong intelligence and we’re looking at smaller units in Swindon, so we can do targeted work with schools. We’re trying to really get down and get to the community level now.”

Official figures show that in Swindon the number of teenage pregnancies have fallen by over 56 per cent since 1998, with 72 conceptions in 2016 - the latest year for which numbers are available.

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The abortion rate has also fallen substantially. In 1998, an average of 23.7 teens per 1,000 chose to have an abortion. By 2016, it was 10.1. 

Ms Walsh cited the work of sexual health nurses and schools in helping to bring rates down. Young people had a good sexual education at school and access to contraception, she said.

Any girl who became pregnant was closely supported by a member of the Family Nurse Partnership. “Mothers get proper one-to-one support from a properly trained nurse up until their baby is two,” said Ms Walsh. “Swindon was a very early adopter of this programme.”

She added: “One of the main aims is keeping young people in education.” Targeted support, such as learning grants, were designed to ensure young mothers could continue with their studies.

School improvements had also helped reduce pregnancy rates, Ms Walsh suggested - citing changes at Lawn Manor Academy (formerly Churchfields Academy) as behind pregnancy rates falling in Walcot and Park North.

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Her comments came as campaigners celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Abortion Act. 

Although the landmark law, which formally legalised abortion of foetuses under 24-weeks-old, was passed by MPs and peers in 1967 it was not until April 27 1968 that the act came into force. 

Emily James of the FPA, a charity that campaigns on women’s sexual health, said: “The Abortion Act was a groundbreaking piece of legislation and a great step forward for women’s access to free, safe and legal abortion.

"However, 50 years on, it’s in urgent need of updating. Abortion must be decriminalised and regulated like any other medical procedure, including in Northern Ireland, where their strict abortion law dates back to the Victorian era.”