The government is to invest £300 million in sexual health services in order to tackle the rise in sexually transmitted infections.

Ministers said the three year programme, which will include a £50 million advertising campaign and a £130 million boost to modernise genito urinary clinics, will reverse current trends.

New figures, published on Thursday from the Health Protection Agency show a rise in STIs, including an eight per cent increase in Chlamydia infections over the past year.