60% of under 25s fear they have caught an STD over Christmas

A NHS survey has found that six out of ten people under the age of 25 fears that they have been infected with Chlamydia over the Christmas holidays. The survey, which questioned 509 people aged between 16 and 24, also found that 69% of them had engaged in unprotected sex during the holiday period.

The recent figures have stunned health experts and they urge anyone who thinks that they may have the infection to get tested.

Chris Morgan of the Westside Contraceptive Service said: “Chlamydia is the most prevalent STI in the UK and it also does not have any symptoms”.

In a separate initiative, NHS officials in East Essex have started a new £250,000 project for Chlamydia screening. The trust will be giving away free cinema tickets to anyone aged between 18 and 24, who take a Chlamydia test.

A spokesman for NHS North East Essex said: “There is a national target from the Department of Health which says you need to screen 35 per cent of young people in that age bracket to make an impact.”

And added that, “We’re already working with GPs and pharmacists to get people tested but we are hoping this will provide more of an incentive.”