Think of Glastonbury and you will probably think of oceans of mud, masses of people and more great music than you can shake a welly at. You probably won’t think of sexually transmitted infections unless the dirt failed to deter you from getting cosy round the back of the portaloos with some grimy fellow reveller.
That is set to change this year, though, with the revelation that the NHS is planning on offering free chlamydia tests at the festival, to those between 15 and 24. Organisers are hoping that in between listening to Blur and the utterly brilliant Regina Spector, festival-goers will also be prompted to pay a quick visit to a special screening centre Somerset NHS are planning on setting up.
The Primary Health Care Trust also plans to make test kits available at 6 different information points which will be dotted around the site. The organisers hope that with so many young people attending the event, they will be ideally placed to target the under-25s, 1 in 10 of whom are estimated to be carrying the chlamydia infection.
Not only will people get a free test, but those who return the kit during the festival will also be given a stylish glow-in-the-dark key ring in the shape of a sperm or – considering how dark it can get in the country – an imminently practical glow-in-the-dark condom. Perhaps the really intelligent will take two tests and then not only will they be able to find their car keys when seeking a bit of privacy with their festival sweetheart, but they’ll also have protection on hand, glowing merrily.