A CAMPAIGN is under way to hammer home the safe sex message for teenagers going on holiday.

South East Essex Primary Care Trust has launched the initiative to make sure young people are given advice and support to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases.

Staff from the trust have put up posters in south Essex and hosted a series of summer non-alcoholic cocktail evenings.

The beach-themed even- ings gave young people the opportunity to speak with health professionals, take a chlamydia test and find out about accessing local sexual health services before and after their holidays.

Karen Payne, sexual health services manager for the trust's Kingsley-Ward Centre in Southchurch Road, Southend, said: "We hope the summer sexual health campaign will ensure young people get relevant information about how to get hold of condoms and learn about sexual health in a fun way.

"The service is there for young people who want to go on their holidays fully prepared, as well as for those young people who come back from holiday and want to be screened for infections like chlamydia because they have had unprotected sex."

Mark Flewitt, cabinet member for health at Southend Council, said it was important to remove the stigma around sexual health.

He said: "If some find it frightening that young people are being urged to take condoms on holiday then I would urge them to consider the alternative. It is far more frightening to think of someone picking up a sexually transmitted disease."

For more information call 01702 577110.