One in ten young people have infection, says PCT

Locally, one in 10 young people have chlamydia, but 70% of women and 52% of men have no symptoms, meaning that a large proportion of cases remain undiagnosed.

Untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy in women and infertility in both men and women.

The local screening service is completely free and confidential and the test for chlamydia is simple. It can be done as a self-test with women needing to take a swab and men asked to pee in a pot.

Becky Mahlunge, sexual health lead for Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust, said: "The number of cases of chlamydia is rising and we need to raise awareness of the infection and the local screening programme amongst young people.

"Rather than producing our own poster, we thought it would be a good idea to run a competition and ask young people to help us out by designing posters that would appeal to them."

The competition is open to anyone under 25 and a prize is on offer for the winning entry. To enter, send your A4 poster and contact details to: The Chlamydia Screening Programme, Ore Clinic, 407 Old London Road, Hastings TN35 5BH or take it in to the Connexions One Stop Shop, Cambridge Road, Hastings. The closing date is March 7.

Anyone who would like more information about chlamydia or would like to take a test can contact the Chlamydia Screening Programme via Ore Clinic on 01424 448410. The team will also be in Priory Meadow Shopping Centre on Saturday 9th February and at Hastings College on Friday, February 15.