Warning issued after potentially unsafe condoms handed out during Freshers' week

Thousands of condoms, only meant for promotional purposes, were handed to students Credit: PA wire

A health warning has been issued after university students in Coventry were handed potentially unsafe condoms during freshers' week.

It comes after the Kasbah nightclub in Hillfields handed out thousands of free condoms to students from the University of Warwick and Coventry University.

The packets were intended for promotional purposes only and did not feature recommended safety markings.

Health bosses say all contraception should feature an expiry date and batch number, plus a British Standards Kitemark and CE European Standards mark.

The condoms handed out at the club night don't feature safety markings and may split if used.

The Kasbah later tweeted that the condoms were only meant to be "a joke" and that people were told "not to use them".

Promotional condoms were handed to students as part of a Freshers' night Credit: Screenshot

Leading sexual health clinicians say it's essential that contraception meets recommended standards outlined by the government.

Charlotte Hubbard, Lead Nurse for Young and Vulnerable People in the Sexual Health Service, said:

Contraception and contraceptive advice is free for students in the UK.

You can get contraception for free from any GP – or a pharmacy if you have a prescription from your GP - as well as community contraceptive clinics, some GUM clinics and sexual health clinics.