Free condoms made available at Bath youth club
Free condoms are to be made available at a youth club in Bath to help reduce teenage pregnancy and abortion rates.
The vending machine will be installed at Peasedown Youth Hub by Bath and North East Somerset Council next month.
The machine works with a "C-card" which is given to those who have discussed condom use with a school nurse, youth worker or other trained professional.
A screen on the machine also displays sexual health advice and contact details for other useful agencies.
In addition to condoms, the machines also provide free Chlamydia-testing kits.
'Young people's health'
The C-Card is a plastic fob which can be exchanged for up to four free condoms a month.
Cabinet member for Early Years, Nathan Hartley (Lib Dem) said: "We have a responsibility to tackle unwanted pregnancies and also sexually transmitted diseases.
"Chlamydia is a lot higher than people think, it's one in three people, and this [vending machine] is another way to show we care about young people's health."
The council already installed a vending machine at Southside Youth Hub in March after approval under the Conservative administration.
However, the current Lib Dem-run council has said it will install more wherever a need is identified.
There are currently 67 different locations such as sexual health clinics and GP surgeries which provide free condoms to young people.