The rate of pregnancies among under 18s in Monmouthshire has more than halved since records began, new figures show.

In 1998, when the Office for National Statistics first started compiling conception data by local authority, the pregnancy rate for young women aged between 15 and 17 was 32 per 1,000 .

By 2016, the year covered by the latest statistics, that figure had dropped to 10.8.

Numerous local authorities across England and Wales saw under 18 pregnancy rates reach record lows.

In Monmouthshire the year with the lowest rate was 2015, with 8.4 per 1,000.

Natika Halil, chief executive of sexual health charity FPA, put the "dramatic fall in teenage pregnancy rates" down to hard work from health and education professionals, as well as the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy which ended in 2010.

She explained: "That’s why it’s so concerning to see the cuts to sexual health services across the country, which could so easily undermine this hard-won achievement, and mean that we see these results reverse in the coming years.

"Teenage pregnancy can be a result of many different factors, but we know it can be reduced by investing the right time, resources and expertise into services and education.

"This investment not only saves money in the long term, but also helps prevent the range of negative long-term educational, health and social outcomes that young parents and their children are more likely to experience."

In total, 18 young women under 18 became pregnant in Monmouthshire in 2016.

Of these women 14, or 78%, chose to have an abortion. That’s more than the average for England and Wales.

This rate has increased since 1998 from 53%.

Ms Halil added: "It’s important to remember that whether or not young people are sexually active, or choose to become parents, they should never face stigma or judgement.

"Pregnancy and parenthood can be a positive life choice for young people, and young parents deserve to get the support they need to make informed choices about their lives.

"This is support that only properly-funded services, alongside high-quality relationships and sex education, can provide."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said that nationally "teenage pregnancies now stand at the lowest levels since records began".

She added that across the country the government has "given local authorities more than £16 billion to spend on public health, including to improve access to sexual health services".