GREENWICH and Lewisham are among the top 10 places for teenage abortion in the country.

Recent figures released by the Department of Health have revealed teenagers in both boroughs are having more abortions than their peers across England and Wales.

Lewisham is ranked as the fourth highest place for teenage abortions nationwide with 32 per 1,000 15 to 17-year-old girls undergoing the procedure.

Last year there were 2,262 abortions in Lewisham.

This is more than three times the rate of abortions than the lowest-rated place in the country, Herefordshire, which only has a rate of 10 per 1,000 girls.

In Greenwich, which was rated as the ninth highest area, there were 29 abortions per 1,000 15 to 17-year-old girls and 1,827 abortions last year.

Greenwich Primary Care Trust says it is undertaking a number of initiatives to reduce the number of conceptions and abortions among young women.

Senior nurse manager at Lewisham Primary Care Trust's sexual and reproductive health service Rosie Jackson said: "Sexual health is a top priority area for Lewisham PCT, and we are totally focused on improving rates for teenage pregnancy and termination in the borough."

A new website has also been launched by the trust to inform young people about sexual health. Visit kisp.org.uk for more.