School nurses in Oxfordshire are set to continue working throughout the summer holidays to combat high levels of teenage pregnancy.

Children in schools in Banbury and Oxford - where conception rates among young people are persistently high - are also set to get “enhanced” sex and relationships lessons.

Local officials are concerned about a rise in teenage pregnancies in the past two years. In 2007 there were 350 conceptions compared with 320 in 2006.

Nationally, rates have been going down by about 10 per cent, but this has only been 5 per cent in Oxfordshire.

There were 84 conceptions between January and March of this year, compared with 91 in the same period in 2007.

Fewer young mothers in the county aged 16 to 19 are in full-time education, employment or training - just 20 per cent compared with a national average of 31 per cent in England.

The nurses will provide mental health, diet and sexual health advice and a phone line and drop-in service at youth clubs.

The council has asked a company to evaluate the training course offered to staff who work with young people and the area’s youth service now has a sexual health development officer. km.