HALF of youngsters have had sex with a new partner without using a condom, a new study has found.

Public Health England, who commissioned the research, have launched a new campaign in a bid to slash sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates among 16-24-year-olds.

In 2016 there were over 141,000 chlamydia and gonorrhoea diagnoses among 15-24-year-olds in England, they said. Almost 60 per cent of everyone diagnosed with a STI last year was under 24.

In Swindon the number of people diagnosed with chlamydia – one of the commonest STIs – has remained fairly stable, with 800 cases last year.

However, of these more than two-thirds were among youngsters under 25-years-old.

Just one in five Swindon young people were tested for chlamydia last year. And the proportion getting screened for the STI has fallen steadily from 23 per cent in 2012.

Public Health England say they want to raise awareness of the serious consequences of some STIs, which can include infertility, an infection of the womb, swollen testicles and meningitis.

Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at Public Health England, said: “Rates of STIs among young people continue to be too high and it is concerning that many sexually active young people are not using condoms with new partners.

“Six in 10 chlamydia and gonorrhoea diagnoses are in those under 25 years of age, so we need to remind young people of the importance of using condoms with a new or casual partner to help prevent infection.”

Jesse, 24, who had both chlamydia and gonorrhoea, spoke out for the government campaign. She said: “The worst of it was having to tell my previous and current sexual partner that I had contracted the STIs, so they also needed to get checked and treated.

“I had symptoms, but I know there are so many people who don’t, so now when having sex with someone new I will definitely use a condom.”

For more about Public Health England’s campaign, visit: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/protect-against-stis-use-a-condom/home.