PICKING the right Valentine’s card for your loved one can be a labour of love.

So NHS Swindon has made it easier by offering young people a card with a clear message.

During the annual Swindon Safer Sex day, which is today, health professionals will be handing out Valentine’s cards to young people in the town centre to help promote contraception and chlamydia testing.

Inside the cards, they will find safer sex advice, including information on how to protect against chlamydia, and a free condom. Pharmacies across the town are also handing out the Valentine’s cards. There will also be a stall in The Parade where young people under 25 can pick up a do-it-yourself chlamydia testing kit.

Frances Mayes, the senior public health manager for NHS Swindon, said: “The majority of young people in Swindon are now aware of the importance of chlamydia testing and we are seeing many more take up the offer of screening, which is great news.” Last year, between April and December, 2,777 young people were tested for chlamydia as part of the NHS Swindon chlamydia screening programme – a 75 per cent increase on last year’s figures.