HEALTH screening was moved from a doctor's surgery to a Hereford nightclub when revellers at a Hallowe'en party were invited to provide urine samples.

It happened at the weekend when two members of Herefordshire Primary Care Trust's sexual health service dropped in at Play nightclub with their strange request.

Dressed as witches, the pair warned partygoers about the dangers of the highly transmittable sexual disease, Chlamydia.

Chlamydia is a growing national problem among the young and there is an national screening programme to try and reduce the incidences in the population under the age of 25.

Play co-operated with the health authority's plan to advise youngsters at the party.

Thirty young people agreed to be tested and others took the opportunity to find out more about sexually transmitted infections and discuss safer sex.

Those who provided a urine sample will be informed of their results by text message. If they are found to have the infection they will be offered treatment - one dose of an antibiotic.

Dr Frances Howie, director of health improvement at the PCT, explained Chlamydia was a sexually transmitted infection that often did not show symptoms but could cause serious health problems including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.

"We really need to get the message about safer sex out to young people and to make them aware that, if left undetected Chlamydia could have long-lasting health consequences," she said.

Testing is routinely available at the Gaol Street Health Centre by calling 01432 378914. There are walk-in sessions for under-21s every Tuesday afternoon from 3pm to 4.30pm and Saturday mornings between 11am and 1.30pm.