A rapid rise in the use of 'abortion pills' led to a record number of abortions in England and Wales last year.

According to official figures, the number of abortions carried out in 2006 was up by almost four per cent on the previous year, with teenage terminations leading the way.

Nineteen-year-olds were the single most likely to undergo abortions, while the rates for under-16s and under-18s were also higher than in 2005.

The "abortion pill" - which removes the need for surgical intervention - was used in 30 per cent of the total number of abortions - up from 24 per cent the previous year.

Caroline Flint, Health Minister, said that she was pleased that there was an increase in early abortions and the use of morning-after pills.

“We welcome the fact that a higher percentage of abortions are taking place at an early stage, almost two-thirds under 10 weeks gestation and most under 13 weeks,” she said.

“It is important that women have early access to abortion services as the earlier the abortion, the lower the risk of complications. We have invested £8 million to improve early access and set a standard of a maximum waiting time of three weeks.”

In 2006, 193,737 terminations were undertaken, 7,300 more than in the previous year. When abortions were legalised in 1968, 22,000 were recorded.

Ms Flint admitted that the Government needed to do more to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. “The NHS needs to work harder to reduce the demand for abortions by improving access to contraception,” she said.

The highest abortion rate is found amongst 19-year-olds, with 35 abortions per 1,000 women. The under-16 abortion rate was 3.9 and the under-18 rate 18.2 per 1,000 women, all higher than in 2005.

Michaela Aston, from the anti-abortion group Life, said: “We know from experience and from the findings of public opinion surveys that in many cases women do not want abortion, but feel that they have no other choice.

“There is a real need for constructive solutions to crisis pregnancy, solutions that try to tackle the issues that make their pregnancy problematic, whether they are to do with housing, financial worries or lack of family support.”

Two thousand abortions were carried out after tests revealed the child may be born disabled, but many were done in the very early stages of pregnancy.

Three in ten terminations were carried out using an "abortion pill", up from 24 per cent of the lower total in 2005. While almost 90 per cent of abortions were carried out before the 13-week mark and 68 per cent in the first ten weeks of pregnancy.

Anne Weyman, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, attacked the lack of proper contraception provision by the NHS, saying that abortion figures had increased due to a lack of funding.

“Women get blamed for irresponsible behaviour when the real cause is primary care trusts neglecting their duty to provide comprehensive contraceptive services,” she said.

“The solution is simple - invest in contraception. This dire situation will continue to get worse unless primary care trusts and the Department of Health take urgent action to prioritise contraception and provide services fit for their purpose.”

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