Britain’s Department of Health said abortions in England and Wales rose by more than 700 in 2005 to 186,416 — from 185,713 in 2004.

Nearly one-third of women who had an abortion last year had one or more before, the London Telegraph reported.

More than 1,000 girls under 15 had an abortion, an increase of 4.7 percent in a year, the newspaper said.

Britain’s Family Planning Association said the figures show the need for improved National Health Service contraceptive services.

Nearly 2,000 abortions were conducted under ground E — which means the risk that the child would be born physically or mentally handicapped. In 22 percent of cases, the unborn child was diagnosed with Down syndrome, the newspaper said.