YOUNGSTERS at Shak youth club in Pewsey had an evening of hilarity when they organised an event to promote safer sex and won £500 of book tokens in the process.

The youngsters were awarded the prize by condom manufacturer Durex for arranging the most imaginative event to highlight safer sex during National Condom Week.

The evening of educational and fun activities involved wearing a range of condom jewellery and playing various games.

Ivor Richards, the youth worker at the club run by Wiltshire County Council, said: "They had a wonderful time organising it. The young people here are up for all kinds of fun and games, but they are also aware of the serious educational message behind it."

The event was part of an ongoing programme of health awareness at the club, which breaks down taboos about talking about sex.

Mr Richards said: "The youth workers are not parents, they are not teachers and they are not doctors so we hope they can approach us and talk about these kind of matters without embarrassment.

"Most of our parents are supportive and very clued up so we have had no negative feedback from the event. It was just one of a whole raft of activities that go on here regularly, so no one was forced to join in."

The centre will use the tokens to set up a library, with everything from Adrian Mole to text books.